The Issue
The DRC has the potential to be an extremely powerful nation, with its abundance of biodiversity and natural resources. These resources could help people in the future with new inventions, medicines, and other uses of these goods. The DRC has more than 2 million square kilometers of forests and is the 5th highest nation globally in biodiversity (and the most diverse nation in Africa). However, because of political strife over resources and the prevalence of the mining industry, this highly valuable environment is at risk.
Mining Process and Its Effects
Process/Effects:
The actual process of extracting coltan is extremely destructive to the earth. It is currently a very uncontrolled process, which gives room for greater exploitation of the earth. In order to reach the coltan, large pits are carved from streambeds and then the earth is scraped away in order to reveal the minerals. This releases dust pollution into the air. This process also contributes to the abundance of landslides. The revealed minerals are then cleaned with water. The groundwater is also polluted with acidic drainage and heavy metal pollution. Silt is abundant as well in dams and rivers. This damages aquatic ecosystems when it drains into larger bodies of water. It also decreases the availability for clean water to civilians. All of these resources then need to be transported to other areas for further manufacturing, leading to an increase in air pollution and oil pollution from leaks.
Deforestation:
More and more mines are being set up each day. In response to this, mining camps have been set up throughout the eastern region of the DRC in order to accommodate for the influxes of miners. These two actions have been greatly contributing to the deforestation of the DRC. The forest ecosystem is home to over 10,000 species of plants, 409 mammal species, 1,117 bird species, and 400 fish species. All of these organisms are threatened by the destruction of their natural habitat and struggle to survive. From 1990-2000 the annual deforestation rate was .22% but it is now estimated to be at .33%.
The actual process of extracting coltan is extremely destructive to the earth. It is currently a very uncontrolled process, which gives room for greater exploitation of the earth. In order to reach the coltan, large pits are carved from streambeds and then the earth is scraped away in order to reveal the minerals. This releases dust pollution into the air. This process also contributes to the abundance of landslides. The revealed minerals are then cleaned with water. The groundwater is also polluted with acidic drainage and heavy metal pollution. Silt is abundant as well in dams and rivers. This damages aquatic ecosystems when it drains into larger bodies of water. It also decreases the availability for clean water to civilians. All of these resources then need to be transported to other areas for further manufacturing, leading to an increase in air pollution and oil pollution from leaks.
Deforestation:
More and more mines are being set up each day. In response to this, mining camps have been set up throughout the eastern region of the DRC in order to accommodate for the influxes of miners. These two actions have been greatly contributing to the deforestation of the DRC. The forest ecosystem is home to over 10,000 species of plants, 409 mammal species, 1,117 bird species, and 400 fish species. All of these organisms are threatened by the destruction of their natural habitat and struggle to survive. From 1990-2000 the annual deforestation rate was .22% but it is now estimated to be at .33%.
Mining Camps
Wood for Fuel:
Mining Camps also have another downfall: their use of wood burning for fuel. 85% of the domestic energy use originates from wood. This increases the deforestation in many areas, especially urban areas such as around the mines. When wood is burned it also releases carbon dioxide into the air, which contributes to climate change and global warming.
Bush Meat Hunting:
In the mining camps there is an acute lack of food and vast amounts of poverty. Thus, many people are forced to turn to hunting in order to obtain the necessary protein and nourishment, paying little attention to which species are endangered or legally sanctioned to hunt. This hunting targets wild animals that are already threatened, driving many to become endangered. The DRC extracts three times as many animals per square kilometers than any nearby countries. These animals become especially threatened because of the deforestation and pollution, leading to a great net loss. In one park the population of gorillas went from 8,000 in 1991 to a mere 40 in 2005. Gorillas are greatly affected and their populations have dropped rapidly. Elephants, large cats, and other animals are also affected.
Mining Camps also have another downfall: their use of wood burning for fuel. 85% of the domestic energy use originates from wood. This increases the deforestation in many areas, especially urban areas such as around the mines. When wood is burned it also releases carbon dioxide into the air, which contributes to climate change and global warming.
Bush Meat Hunting:
In the mining camps there is an acute lack of food and vast amounts of poverty. Thus, many people are forced to turn to hunting in order to obtain the necessary protein and nourishment, paying little attention to which species are endangered or legally sanctioned to hunt. This hunting targets wild animals that are already threatened, driving many to become endangered. The DRC extracts three times as many animals per square kilometers than any nearby countries. These animals become especially threatened because of the deforestation and pollution, leading to a great net loss. In one park the population of gorillas went from 8,000 in 1991 to a mere 40 in 2005. Gorillas are greatly affected and their populations have dropped rapidly. Elephants, large cats, and other animals are also affected.
Political Tensions
The complex political affairs of the DRC also have an effect on the environment. Rebel groups hold power in the country, which has created a lack of control. They act without consideration in regards to the land, often hurting ecosystems in the process. Land tenure systems in the DRC are weak in controlling their usage. Theoretically, the government owns all the country's land; however, the system has another unwritten law that clans hold the land. This conflict of ownership has led to the careless misuse of natural resources in lieu of the appropriate government oversight. The government also does not have the necessary power to protect the forests, and many people have little knowledge surrounding the environmental state of the DRC. The areas of mining land and the areas of forest are overlapping, and as mining lands increase, forests equally decrease. Only 8% of the DRC is considered national territory and thus “protected;” it is, however, an unenforced protection, existing only on paper. These "protected" areas are exploited nonetheless and it is currently impossible for legal action to take place.