Mining extraction pollutes freshwater through leaching, where damaging metals enter underground water supplies. The Bolivian government and its development institutions have done little to prevent soil erosion, which has occurred primarily in the Cochabamba and highland regions of Bolivia. Much of the soil is no longer fertile. Laws such as the Agrarian Reform Law of 1953, which listed resource conservation as a fundamental objective, has not been adequately enforced. The Bolivian government did not assess the soil erosion until the late 1980s.
Many peasants working the land are ignorant of the environmental impact that gold mining has.
They are not aware of which techniques are best for the environment and can prevent soil erosion and deforestation. The government, however, is unable to financially support soil conservation programs and relies on the assistance of NGOs. Soil erosion harms farm and grazing lands and increases flooding and desertification. Also, U.S. environmental groups are pushing for even stronger legislation against mining in the United States. These U.S. actions are driving many U.S. mining companies to Bolivia, where their mining exploration is much more welcomed.