In Congo’s Sangha region, the government has granted 79 semi-industrial gold mining permits, raising concerns about the environmental impact on the area. The region, which is part of the Congo Basin—a critical global carbon sink—has been designated for the REDD+ program, a global initiative aimed at reducing deforestation and forest degradation. However, the expansion of mining activities threatens these conservation efforts, leading to deforestation, soil erosion, and water contamination from toxic chemicals used in gold extraction.
Environmentalists warn that the new mining operations could severely undermine the Republic of Congo’s international commitments to climate action, as mining disrupts ecosystems crucial for carbon sequestration. The REDD+ program’s head has emphasized that mining’s destructive effects on local forests could increase emissions of CO₂ and methane, which would reverse progress in fighting climate change. The situation highlights the difficult balance between economic growth driven by mineral exploitation and the country’s environmental protection obligations, with long-term consequences for both biodiversity and global climate goals. More