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OKAPI WILDLIFE RESERVE, Congo — Along the banks of the Ituri River, construction is bustling, with buildings closely packed and cranes moving soil, leaving little trace of the lush forest that once thrived in the area.
Nestled within the Ituri province of eastern Congo, a gold mine operated by a Chinese company is advancing into territory that many argue should not be subject to industrial activity: the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, recognized as an endangered World Heritage site.
Thirty years ago, the reserve’s original boundaries were established by the Congolese government, which included the area currently being mined by the Chinese corporation. Over time, under unclear circumstances, these boundaries have been reduced, enabling the mining activity to occur within this rich biodiversity region.
This reserve has long been in peril, facing threats from conflict and wildlife trafficking, but the swift growth of the mines now endangers the forest further and disrupts the local communities. Residents and wildlife specialists report that the mining operations are contaminating local waterways and soil, destroying trees, and driving up poaching, all with minimal accountability from those in charge.
“It’s troubling that a semi-industrial mining setup is operating freely within a designated World Heritage Site, especially one already flagged as endangered,” voiced Joe Eisen, the executive director of Rainforest Foundation UK.
Covering over 13,000 square kilometers (5,000 square miles), the reserve was established as a protected site in 1996, acknowledged for its distinctive biodiversity and housing a significant number of endangered species, including the okapi, which represents about 15% of the remaining population of around 30,000 globally. It forms part of the Congo Basin rainforest—the second-largest in the world—and acts as a crucial carbon sink essential for combating climate change. Its mineral wealth, including gold and diamonds, adds to its significance.
According to Congo’s mining regulations, mining is prohibited within protected areas, which include the Okapi Reserve.
Issa Aboubacar, a representative of Kimia Mining Investment, the Chinese operator, claimed that their activities are legitimate and that they have recently renewed their operating permits until 2048, as per government documentation.
Congo’s mining registry stated that the mapping used for current operations was derived from documents from the ICCN, the authority managing Congo’s protected reserves, and that ongoing collaboration with the ICCN aims to update boundaries and enhance protection for the park.
The ICCN clarified in discussions this year with the mining registry that misunderstandings regarding the boundaries have been resolved, and that the reserve’s original boundaries should be reinstated.
An internal government memo from August—previously unreported—indicated that all companies within the reserve, including Kimia Mining, may face shutdowns. However, the timeline and method for this action remain uncertain.
This document has been recognized by environmentalists as the first explicit admission that the current boundaries are inaccurate.
Rights advocates in Congo have long argued that permits were granted illegally by the mining ministry, which used erroneous maps as a basis.
Eastern Congo has endured decades of violence, and the Okapi Reserve has suffered years of local militia turmoil.
In 2012, a local rebel group attacked residents in Epulu town, resulting in the deaths of two rangers and 14 okapis tied to a breeding program.
The reserve is additionally threatened by artisanal mining practices carried out by thousands of Indigenous peoples residing in and around the forest.
The Muchacha mine—spanning about 12 miles (19 kilometers) along the Ituri River—is one of the largest small and medium-scale gold mines in the nation and features several semi-industrial sites. Satellite imagery reveals ongoing development in the southwestern part of the reserve since its operations commenced in 2016, intensifying in recent years.
Joel Masselink, a geographer specializing in satellite imagery, indicated that the mining agency responsible for mineral allocations has been utilizing a version of the reserve’s maps that have effectively reduced its size by nearly a third, consequently allowing the issuance and renewal of exploration and extraction permits.
The mining cadastral told the U.N. that the altered boundaries stemmed from a letter by the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature. However, a U.N. report noted that a copy of this letter was never submitted, and the ICCN asserted that no such communication had been received, affirming the original boundaries should stand.
Changing the boundaries of a World Heritage Site requires approval from UNESCO experts and the World Heritage Committee, which reviews the potential impacts of any modifications. The World Heritage Center confirmed that no requests for boundary modification concerning the reserve have been made, noting that such cases for development purposes are exceptionally rare.
Civil society organizations in Congo accuse certain governmental figures of deliberately altering boundaries for personal benefit. “Everyone knew Muchacha was within the reserve,” remarked Alexis Muhima, executive director of the Congolese Civil Society Observatory for Peace Minerals, stating that the discrepancy only became apparent once the mine began yielding substantial gold.
According to the U.N. report, control over mines often resides with military personnel; their presence is sometimes linked to significant business and political interests, with soldiers at times restricting entry for local officials.
Residents formerly engaged in mining activities within the reserve express frustration over perceived double standards. “Our community is concerned because the Chinese can mine in a restricted area while we cannot,” stated Jean Kamana, village chief of Epulu, located inside the reserve.
Despite the protected status of the forest, the community continued to mine until the government enforced stricter measures following the Chinese company’s arrival. Kimia Mining allows limited access for locals to mine leftovers, but at a price that many cannot afford.
Muvunga Kakule, 44, used to engage in artisanal mining while also selling produce to other miners but now struggles financially, having lost 95% of his income because the Chinese refuse to purchase locally. He can no longer afford to send his children to private school.
Some villagers have resorted to clandestine mining, risking arrest, due to a lack of work opportunities.
As the reserve loses land, wildlife, and income, the situation grows dire. During an inspection of the reserve earlier this year, Kimia Mining denied entry to external observers, while the government refused access for patrols alongside rangers.
However, numerous locals and former employees of Kimia Mining from adjacent villages report that the mining operations are decimating forests and wildlife while polluting water sources and soil.
Five individuals who previously worked in the mines, unwilling to disclose their identities for fear of retaliation, described a dangerous pattern: abandoned mining sites left with toxic water sources, hazards such as open pits, and resulting soil contamination when rainwater flows in.
Reports indicate that the Chinese mining company uses mercury to extract gold from ore, which is recognized by the U.N. as one of the top toxic chemicals with significant public health impacts, particularly harmful to the nervous and immune systems.
One former cook for Kimia, 27, claimed that the soil in her area has become infertile due to toxic chemicals used in mining operations. She lamented, “(It’s) poisoned by chemicals used by the Chinese.”
A study by the University of Antwerp, which assessed the effects of conflict and mining on the reserve, established that chemicals like mercury and cyanide used for gold extraction can infiltrate ecosystems, leading to soil contamination.
Historically, 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of peanut seeds would yield about 30 bags, but now she struggles to reach three bags. This income loss poses challenges for her family’s access to education and healthcare.
Assana, a fisherman who previously worked in the mines, noted that it now takes him four days to catch as much fish as he once caught in a single day. He witnessed extensive deforestation executed by the mining company, attributing increasing heat as a result.
Between January and May of this year alone, over 480 hectares (1,186 acres) of forest cover disappeared from the reserve—comparable to nearly 900 American football fields—raising alarms among conservationists and relevant government bodies.
Aboubacar, the spokesperson for Kimia, asserted that the company adheres to environmental protocols and contributes tax revenue to the government for reforestation efforts. He emphasized that mining is a critical economic engine for Congo, indicating that environmental concerns must be weighed against those of mining growth.
Kimia claims to be supporting the local population by employing more than 2,000 individuals.
Conservation efforts to protect the reserve face numerous challenges, particularly when legal ambiguities abound.
“On one hand, Congo’s legislation clearly deems mining illegal in protected zones. On the other hand, if a mine operates under official permits, it complicates enforcement efforts,” explained Emma Stokes, the Vice President of field conservation for The Wildlife Conservation Society.
The aforementioned internal memo outlines talks between the ICCN and Congo’s mining registry aimed at resolving boundary disputes. It indicates a forthcoming process to halt mining within the reserve and appropriately integrate the agreed boundary maps into the mining registry.
UNESCO has requested a report from Congo by February detailing plans to address the ongoing issues surrounding the reserve.
Unfortunately, this promises little relief for the affected communities.
Wendo Olengama, a chief of a Pygmy community, expressed that the influx of individuals to the Chinese-managed mines has exacerbated poaching, inhibiting their ability to earn a living.
During hunting seasons, he used to net as many as seven animals daily, but now capturing two has become a struggle.
Sitting with his wife in a modest hut as she cradles their 3-year-old granddaughter, they hope the Chinese firm will create business opportunities like cattle farming and teach sustainable hunting methods.
“If conditions do not improve, we will face poverty,” his wife, Dura Anyainde, lamented. “We won’t have food to eat.”
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