In the Democratic Republic of Congo, on both banks of the Ituri River, scattered buildings can be seen, with cranes delivering soil and crushed stones scattered on the land, and sporadically distributed trees hint at the fact that this area was once a forest.
In the province of Ituri in eastern Congo, a gold mine operated by Chinese nationals is rapidly encroaching upon an area many believe should not be exploited—the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the brink of extinction.
The reserve was established by the Congolese government thirty years ago, including the area now being mined by a Chinese company. However, over the years, in opaque circumstances, the boundaries of the reserve have been continuously shrinking, with the company delving deep into the dense forests to operate.
Under the threats of tribal conflicts and wildlife trafficking, the reserve has been listed as endangered. The rapid expansion of Chinese mining activities now poses a further threat to the forests and communities living within them. Local residents and wildlife experts claim that mining activities are polluting rivers and soil, leading to a significant decrease in trees, population expansion, increased poaching, while mining companies bear almost no responsibility for these issues.
Joe Eisen, Executive Director of the Rainforest Foundation, expressed shock that semi-industrial mining operations are being carried out with impunity in a UNESCO World Heritage site that should be protected, despite the site already being listed as endangered.
The reserve spans over 13,000 square kilometers and was designated as a protected area in 1996 due to its unique biodiversity and abundant endangered species. It is home to the Okapi, a forest giraffe whose numbers make up about 15% of the remaining 30,000 forest giraffes worldwide. The area is part of the second-largest rainforest in the world, the Congo Basin Rainforest, serving as a crucial carbon sink to mitigate climate change, while also holding rich mineral resources such as gold and diamonds.
According to mining regulations in Congo, mining is prohibited in protected areas, including the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.
A spokesperson for Kimia Mining Investment, the Chinese mining company, Issa Aboubacar, stated that their operations are legal. According to government records, the group has recently had their license extended until 2048.
The Congolese Mining Registry stated that their maps come from the Institute for the Congolese Conservation of Nature (ICCN), the agency responsible for managing Congo’s protected areas. They are currently working with the ICCN to update boundaries and enhance protection in the park.
The ICCN informed the Associated Press that during a meeting with the mining registry this year, both sides clarified misunderstandings about the boundary issues and agreed to use the original boundaries.
An internal memo seen by the Associated Press in August stated that all companies operating within the reserve, including the Chinese Kimia Mining company, are to be shut down. However, it remains unclear when and how this closure will take place.
This memo, never reported before, is seen as the first document acknowledging the current boundary discrepancies, as stated by environmentalists working in Congo.
Human rights organizations in Congo have long claimed that mining permits were issued based on inaccurate maps by the mining department, making them illegal.
The eastern region of Congo has been plagued by violent conflicts for decades, with the Okapi Reserve also experiencing years of turmoil caused by local militia groups.
In 2012, in the town of Epulu, a local rebel group massacred several residents, including two park rangers, and 14 Okapi, which were part of a captive breeding program.
Furthermore, the reserve is threatened by small-scale artisanal mining and the presence of thousands of indigenous residents living in and around the forest.
The Muchacha mine is the largest mine within the reserve, one of the country’s largest small to medium-sized gold mines, spanning about 12 miles along the Ituri River, consisting of several semi-industrial sites. Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show continuous expansion in the southwest area of the reserve since the mine began operating in 2016, indicating a strong growth trend.
Joel Masselink, a geographer specializing in satellite imagery, who previously worked on forest protection projects, stated that the mining cadastral office, responsible for allocating mining licenses, uses a version of the reserve map that shows the area has shrunk by nearly one-third. He noted that only this version grants the mining cadastral office the authority to issue and renew exploration and exploitation licenses.
A report by UN experts revealed that the mining cadastral department informed the UN that changes to the boundaries occurred due to a letter from the ICCN, responsible for Congo’s reserves, although they did not provide a copy. However, the ICCN informed the Associated Press that they had never seen such a letter and that the boundaries being used should remain the original ones.
A spokesperson for the World Heritage Center told the Associated Press that any alteration to the boundaries of a World Heritage site must receive approval from UNESCO experts and the World Heritage Committee to analyze the impact of the modifications. The center stated that no request had been received to modify the boundaries of the reserve for development purposes, and cases of boundary changes for development are extremely rare.
Civil organizations in Congo accuse some government officials of intentionally altering boundaries for personal gain. Alexis Muhima, Executive Director of the Congolese Civil Society Observatory for Peace Minerals, stated, “We all know that Muchacha is within the park boundaries,” claiming that discrepancies in park borders emerged when they discovered the mine was producing a significant amount of gold.
The UN report claimed military forces control the mining areas, with property owners being protected by powerful commercial and political interest groups, sometimes preventing local officials from accessing the mining sites.
Residents who previously conducted mining operations within the reserve express outrage at these double standards. Jean Kamana, the village chief in Epulu within the reserve, expressed concerns that while Chinese individuals are mining in the reserve, the local community is prohibited from entering.
While the forest is protected, people have been mining there before authorities decided to take action, primarily triggered by the arrival of Chinese miners. Kimia Mining Investment allowed locals to scavenge for leftover minerals, but the fees were deemed too high for many to afford.
Muvunga Kakule, a former artisanal miner who also sold farm produce to other miners within the reserve, stated that due to the Chinese not purchasing local products, he can no longer mine or sell his goods. His income decreased by 95%, making it difficult for him to afford his children’s education and healthcare.
Some residents told the Associated Press that they had no other job options and had to risk illegal mining activities in exchange for livelihood.
Earlier this year, Kimia Mining Investment did not allow the Associated Press access to the mining site, and the government also prohibited forest rangers from patrolling the area.
However, nearly 20 residents of the reserve and its surrounding villages, along with former and current employees of Kimia Mining Investment, informed the Associated Press that mining activities are destroying the forests and wildlife, polluting the water and land.
Five individuals who worked at Kimia Mining Investment stated that after the Chinese completed mining in one area, they left behind exposed toxic water sources. Occasionally, people fell into uncovered mine shafts, and when it rained, pollutants seeped into the soil. They refused to disclose their identities for fear of reprisal.
Employees and mining experts affirmed that the Chinese used mercury in their operations to separate gold from ores. As mercury is listed by the UN as one of the ten major public health issues, it can have toxic effects on the nervous and immune systems.
A 27-year-old female chef who worked in the gold mine for six months and lived in Badengaido near the mining area stated that the soil had been rendered infertile and contaminated by chemical substances used by the Chinese.
She mentioned that previously, planting 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of peanut seeds would yield approximately 30 bags, but now harvesting just three bags was challenging. The decrease in income made it difficult for her to afford her siblings’ school fees and medical expenses.
Assana, a fisherman who used to work in the mining area, mentioned that it now takes four days to catch the same amount of fish that he could catch in a day prior to mining activities. Last year, while working as a day laborer for the Chinese company, this 38-year-old fisherman witnessed extensive deforestation by the Chinese, making the unbearable hot weather even worse.
According to a joint statement by the Wildlife Conservation Society and government agencies, from January to May last year, the reserve lost over 480 hectares (1,186 acres) of forest cover, equivalent to nearly 900 American football fields in size. The statement expressed concern over this finding.
Aboubacar, the spokesperson for Kimia Mining Investment in Congo, stated that the company adheres to environmental standards and pays tree planting taxes to the government. He emphasized that mining is a significant source of income for Congo, meaning that it is impossible to prioritize the environment over mining.
Aboubacar highlighted that Kimia is providing support to local residents and employing over 2,000 workers.
Environmental groups are striving to protect the reserve but find it challenging to enforce protection in legal ambiguity.
Emma Stokes, Deputy Director of Field Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society, mentioned the difficulties in upholding protection in the reserve due to conflicting legal regulations. On one hand, mining within protected areas is clearly prohibited by Congolese law, while the issuance of official permits for specific mining sites leads to confusion, making it challenging to enforce protection on the ground.
An internal memo reviewed by the Associated Press outlined discussions between the ICCN and the Congolese Mining Registry Joint Working Group aimed at resolving boundary issues. The document stated that this would initiate a process to halt all mining activities within the reserve and incorporate the maps agreed upon by the joint committee into the mining registry system.
UNESCO has requested Congo to submit a report by February detailing the measures they will take to address this issue.
However, for the communities within the reserve, this has not brought much solace.
Wendo Olengama, a Pygmy leader, emphasized that the influx of thousands of miners into the Chinese-managed mining areas exacerbates poaching activities, making it challenging for Pygmy people to earn a livelihood.
He noted that during the hunting season, he used to catch up to seven animals a day, eating some and selling others. However, now, it is difficult to even catch two animals a day.
Wendo and his wife expressed hope that the Chinese mining company would provide them with business opportunities like cattle farming and teach responsible hunting practices. His wife, Dura Anyainde, stressed, “If this situation persists, we will live in misery without food.”
(Reference: The Associated Press)