What Republic of Congo’s gold rush is leaving behind

What Republic of Congo’s gold rush is leaving behind

Gold mining by the Chinese company City SARL inside the Dimonika Biosphere Reserve in the Republic of Congo has devastated 5 hectares (12 acres) of forest. Artisanal gold miners and some local community members have had to leave the area, depriving them of food and drinking water. Water samples taken in the area and analyzed in a laboratory revealed dangerously high levels of mercury, which threaten the health of the inhabitants. NGOs have denou…