Mining and Ecosystem Functions and Services in the Congo Basin

This chapter reviewed the importance of mining and economic and environmental impacts on human communities and biodiversity. Economically, the review found that, despite the fact that mining-generated incomes were unable to ignite the sustainable development communities expected of mining companies, most of the Congo Basin’s countries heavily depend on the mining industry. Pre- and post-mining data to compare the well-being of local communities were difficult to find as it was the case for studies documenting wildlife species loss due to mining, suggesting, therefore, that gaps remain to be filled by researchers in the years to come. Reviewed records have documented heavy impacts of mining on the overall biodiversity and the environment, constituting negative externalities of mining. Both large-scale mining (LSM) and artisanal-small mining (ASM) have a high impact on forest, land clearing, and other forms of habitat loss and degradation; however, ASM was reported to have a higher impact than LSM in the reviewed published materials across the Congo Basin. Other negative environmental externalities of mining included pollution of air, soil, and water, with mercury documented in fish species and water stream. The opening of mining sites increased bushmeat trade and human rights abuses. To curb the biodiversity losses due to mining, the Congo Basin’s governments will need to further reform both ASM and LSM sectors.