DRC Forests Face Mining Scramble

In the Democratic Republic of Congo's southern Haut-Katanga province, communities like Lukutwe are struggling to protect their forest reserves from encroaching mining operations. As global demand for critical minerals such as cobalt—essential for electric batteries and defense technology—soars, foreign companies are intensifying their search for these resources. This has led to increased restrictions and incursions into protected areas, with armed soldiers reportedly blocking access to community-managed forest reserves.

To combat this pressure, local communities have pursued official land titles and established forest concessions, known as CFCLs. These legal mechanisms, introduced in 2016, aim to empower communities to manage their forests and provide a safeguard against land grabs and forced relocations by mining firms. Despite these protections, challenges persist, including enforcement difficulties and the potential for communities to engage in destructive mining practices themselves.

The region, a major source of the world's cobalt, is experiencing significant deforestation, partly due to mining activities. While forest concessions theoretically allow for revenue sharing with mining companies operating nearby, local communities often complain that licenses are granted without proper consent or benefit-sharing agreements. This ongoing tension highlights the complex interplay between resource extraction, environmental protection, and indigenous land rights in the DRC.