Gold mine

A UN-protected wildlife reserve in Congo is facing growing threats from illegal gold mining, with a Chinese company accused of significantly damaging the environment. For eight years, Kimia Mining, a Chinese-owned firm, has expanded its operations inside the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Local communities and conservationists say the company’s activities are wreaking havoc on the area’s biodiversity. Established as a protected area in 1996, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve covers over 13,000 square kilometers (5,000 square miles) of rainforest and is home to unique species, including the okapi, a forest giraffe. The reserve holds about 15% of the world’s remaining okapi population, estimated at just 30,000 animals. It also plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change, as part of the Congo Basin rainforest, a major carbon sink. However, over the years, the boundaries of the reserve have been gradually reduced under unclear circumstances, allowing mining companies like Kimia Mining to operate within its limits. Despite being a protected area, the reserve has long been a site for illegal mining, with authorities cracking down only after the arrival of the Chinese firm. Kimia Mining has allowed limited access for locals to mine leftover materials, but many cannot afford the fees. Muvunga Kakule, a 44-year-old former artisanal miner, says he has lost nearly all his income since the Chinese arrived. He no longer mines or sells produce, as the company refuses to buy from local farmers. “Our life has not been the same since the Chinese came and chased us out of the bush. We can no longer work or send our children to school,” he says. Conservation groups are working to protect the reserve, but they face difficulties in enforcement due to unclear legalities surrounding the boundaries. Kimia Mining has recently renewed its mining permits until 2048, according to government records. While the Congo government’s mining registry claims it is working with the ICCN (the body responsible for managing protected areas) to update the reserve’s boundaries, it is unclear when action will be taken. An internal government memo from August indicated that all mining operations in the reserve, including Kimia Mining, would eventually be shut down, but no timeline has been set. Aime Vusike Kiruzi, director of Epulu Radio, based inside the reserve, expressed concern over the loss of wildlife. “We are no longer seeing some species that used to be well protected here,” he said. “In our time, we saw okapi, elephants, antelopes, even monkeys. But it is no longer easy to see them.” Kiruzi called on Congolese authorities to protect the reserve for future generations, so they can witness the same wildlife he saw growing up.