Goal
To improve the resilience of communities vulnerable to climate change in Democratic Republic of Congo through increased restoration and protection of forests and woodlands degraded from mining.
The Context
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is key in the global response to climate change, from its reserves of critical minerals needed for the green transition to its vast forests, which store carbon (CO2) and help to regulate global warming.
As mining expands, local ecosystems are disrupted and, in some cases, destroyed. Deforestation is a significant risk for DRC. In 2022 alone, DRC lost more than half a million hectares of forests—accounting for around 13 percent of global tropical deforestation. At the current rate, DRC’s primary forests could be completely razed by 2100.
While mining is not the only cause of deforestation, it continues to be a serious threat. As the rush for mineral wealth found in DRC intensifies, local communities are already facing the adverse effects of climate change, such as heavy rainfall, droughts, and rising temperatures, which increase food insecurity among households.
To be better prepared to withstand the shocks of climate change, communities that rely on artisanal mining need to be supported to become environmental stewards. This includes looking to the traditional environmental stewards—Indigenous Peoples—who offer significant knowledge and innovative solutions.
What We Are Doing
IMPACT’s Powering Resilience project aims to increase the resilience of Democratic Republic of Congo’s communities vulnerable to the impacts of mining, particularly critical minerals that are vital for the green transition. The project will enhance the local populations’ capacity to restore and safeguard their ecosystems, such as tropical forests and woodlands. It will center women’s leadership and promote Indigenous knowledge as part of efforts to support communities to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.
The project will:
- Improve the restoration and protection of forest ecosystems by DRC communities affected by mining and vulnerable to climate change
• Strengthen knowledge and capacity of local stakeholders, especially women and Indigenous Peoples
• Train local communities to restore and protect ecosystems through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) activities
• Undertake a valuation of ecosystem services to support communities to identify and create new economic opportunities
• Support to implement nature-based income-generating activities - Improve ecosystem governance in DRC’s forest-dependent and mining-affected communities
• Strengthen local governance mechanisms
• Support the development and implementation of community action plans to address ecosystem governance
• Train women, youth and Indigenous Peoples on leadership and conflict mediation - Improve consideration of community interests in plans and strategies which protect ecosystems and biodiversity, or critical mineral production in DRC
• Strengthen relationships with networks and civil society to share knowledge and experience
• Analyze relevant policies and strategies at different levels of government
• Support local actors to propose recommendations for relevant policies and strategies
• Stakeholder outreach to disseminate recommendations and research findings
Project Stories
Story
How the Villages of Bongonza and Bayeu Transformed Local Governance to Protect their Ecosystems
For the past few years, the villages of Bongonza and Bayeu, located in Democratic Republic of Congo’s Tshopo Province in Banalia Territory, have been faced with semi-industrial gold mining. However, […]
Read More for How the Villages of Bongonza and Bayeu Transformed Local Governance to Protect their Ecosystems
Publication
New Research Highlights How Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss is Affecting DRC’s Artisanal Mining Communities
MPACT completed research in Democratic Republic of Congo to understand local ecosystems and how these are affected by climate change and mining, as well as how to promote more equitable participation in natural resource management.
Read More for New Research Highlights How Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss is Affecting DRC’s Artisanal Mining Communities
