Claudia Vega

Change Agent, Connector, Scientist

Claudia Vega is a rainforest toxicologist on a mission to expose and mitigate the hidden dangers of mercury contamination in the Amazon. As the founding mercury research director at the Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA)—a young nonprofit conservation science center based in Puerto Maldonado, in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon and the largest illegal gold mining region in South America—she built a world-class laboratory and research program from scratch, revealing how unregulated gold mining poisons both wildlife and indigenous communities. By partnering with miners, healthcare workers, and policy makers, Claudia transforms cutting-edge science into tangible solutions that protect these critical ecosystems. A member of the UN Minamata Convention’s Open-Ended Scientific Group, she amplifies the Amazon’s urgent call for global attention. Through pioneering research and relentless advocacy, Claudia strives to safeguard one of Earth’s most vital regions—and the people who call it home.

Dancing, nature, water, sports

We have to be mindful of our consumption choices, every activity has an impact, and it is good to know what impact we have with the products that we use. Mercury is a potent toxin that can travel long distances and concentrates in aquatic food chains, reaching high levels in predator fishes like tuna, and reaching concentrations that represent a human health concern. Mercury is used to extract gold in Artisanal Gold Mining activity, it is often illegal and takes place mainly in tropical regions. The gold that we use can be destroying and poisoning the Amazon rainforest or other biodiversity hotspots in the world. Every time we buy gold, we can influence how it’s mined. By demanding responsibly sourced, mercury-free gold, each of us can drive real change.

Environmental Pollution, Mercury contamination, Risk assessment

Paddling in outrigger canoe