This presentation provides an overview of the environmental issues which arise from the artisanal mining of stanniferous metals in the Kivus, in DR Congo.This presentation was given by Estelle Levin at the Finnwatch seminar on the makeITfair campaign in Helsinki on 21st January 2008.

1. Estelle Levin
Minerals and Sustainability Consultant
Finnwatch Helsinki Seminar
21st January 2008
© Estelle Levin, 21st January 2008

2. Tropical rainforest environment

Albertine Rift biozone

The Congo Basin : 1/5 of world’s remaining closed canopy

tropical forest.
“the Congolese forest [is] a public good, with critical values for
the global environment and for millions of forest-dependent
people, who are among the poorest in the world.”
CIFOR, The World Bank 2007
© Estelle Levin, 21st January 2008

4. Flagship and extremely endangered

species on CITES red list
Eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla

beringei graueri)
 86% of population in KBNP in 1995.
 Total population decline of 80% (17,000
to 3,000 individuals) between 1998 and
2001 (Redmond 2001)
Bush elephant not sighted in

KBNP since 1990s. Previously
3,600.
Leopard

Chimpanzees.

 Orphaned chimps continue to be
rescued and housed in sanctuaries in
Goma and Bukavu
Distribution of eastern lowland gorilla
© Estelle Levin, 21st January 2008
© 1998 FFI, Oryx, 32 (2), 122-130

5. Huge mineral deposits:

75% DRC coltan
Armed groups, Hutu

refugees and displaced
people mine in the park
Incapacity of ICCN (park

authorities) to adequately
protect the park
Collusion and direct

involvement of politicians
in pillaging the park’s
resources
KBNP Park Rangers, 2006
© Estelle Levin, 21st January 2008
© Estelle Levin

7. Method and scale is determined by nature of deposit:
River mining

Open cast mining of old river beds and soft rock

deposits
Underground (shaft) mining of old river beds and

soft rock deposits
© Estelle Levin, 21st January 2008

8. Clear forest
1.
Remove overburden to expose
2.
mineralised ore (as gravel or rock)
Extract ore (using ropes, wooden
3.
pulleys, sacks)
Crush ore using hammers
4.
Bag crushed ore and transport to
5.
washing site
Wash crushed ore to concentrate mineral
6.
using wooden sluices
Bag concentrated mineral
7.
Sell concentrated mineral
8.
Crushing cassiterite ore at Kalehe
Photo © Estelle Levin © Estelle Levin, 21st January 2008

9. DEFORESTATION
Timber extraction to

Build camps

Reinforce mine shafts

Make mining tools

Get firewood for warmth and

cooking in camps
Forest clearance to expose gravel /

rock for mining
De-barking trees to make pans for

concentrating the minerals Panning cassiterite in DRC
www.congopanorama.info/news/echos-Aout2007.shtml
Cutting lianas to make carrying baskets for transporting the mineral

Lack of reclamation leaves behind a damaged, unstable landscape of holes and

pits
Based on Redmond, I. 2001. Coltan Boom, Gorilla Bust. The Impact of Coltan Mining on Gorillas and other
Wildlife in Eastern DR Congo, May 2001. DFGFE and Born Free Foundation

10. WATER and AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
Pollution and siltation of streams

by silt from washing
River diversions and damage

Direct dumping of waste, tailings and effluents in waterways

Silting up of streams likely to kill invertebrates and reduce photosynthesis in aquatic plants

Reduced productivity of fish stocks in lakes and rivers affected by silt pollution

Erosion of unprotected earth during rains leading to land-slips

Long-term changes in watershed due to rapid run-off in
 Photo © Estelle Levin
deforested areas
Based on Redmond 2001

11. BIODIVERSITY
Hunting of animals for meat to feed miners and camp followers

Animals maimed or dying after escaping from snares

Exposure of gorillas and chimpanzees to disease owing to sewage from

mining sites.
Disturbance of animals due to

large number of people resident
in and moving through forest
Ecological changes due to loss of

keystone species such as
elephants and apes
People kill animals in ‘self-

defence’
Based on Redmond 2001
Skulls of animals found during the height of the coltan mining
© Estelle Levin

12. complete
[EL1]Please
Ongoing conflict has created unstable

environment
Conflict resources

Displacement and survival

Mineral boom

Exports in value for cassiterite 2003-2006 from Southern Kivu
Volume# Taxes##
Value Number of Export value Price for sale
Year (tons) ($) ($) exports ($) ($/Ton)
2003 2 986 4 437 788 221, 889 135 1, 486 1,411
2004 2 945 3 364 213 168, 211 52 1, 142 1,085
2005 3 416 6 213 428 310, 671 59 1, 819 1,728
2006 2 388 6 709 120 335, 456 32 2, 810 2,669
2007 (1) 1 172 3 176 840 158, 842 22 2, 711 2,575
# 4 months Source:
## total 5% of custom value INICA 2007
© Estelle Levin, 21st January 2008

13. The silverback, Chimanuka, with one of his offspring in the Kahuzi-Biega Natinonal Park, 2006
Photo © Estelle Levin
© Estelle Levin, 21st January 2008