The rapid expansion of the Chinese mines threatens to further degrade the forest and the communities living within, alarming experts about the consequences of mining in protected areas.
Congo's mining code prohibits mining in protected areas, yet the Chinese-run operation has encroached on the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, raising questions about legality and accountability.
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to unique biodiversity, including the endangered okapi, yet the reserve's boundaries have been reduced, enabling mining activities.
Joe Eisen from the Rainforest Foundation UK highlights that it's alarming for a semi-industrial mining operation to operate freely in a protected World Heritage site already on a danger list.
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