The Environmental Crime Crisis

Illegal logging and the Congo con ict

Rwenzori National Park

Beni

Nitoyo

Opyenge

Kibale National Park

North Kivu

Biambwe

Luberu

UGANDA

Maiko National Park

Lake Edward

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Virunga National Park

Biundu

National Park

Road

Bwindi Impenetrable Park

Deforestation

Biruwe

Monitored between 1990 and 2003 Reported between 2005 and 2010

Rutshuru

Masisi

Walikale

Mining

Coltan and cassiterite mine Gold mine

RWANDA

Goma

Con ict

Area cotrolled by rebels Area with strong rebel in uence Security related incidents against Humanitarian Organizations in 2009 and 2010

Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Lake Kivu

Kalehe

South Kivu

Sources: UNOCHA , series of maps ; The Woods Hole Research Center, UNFCCC-COP, Reducing Co 2 Emissions from Deforestation And Degradation in The Democratic Republic of Congo: A First Look, 2007; Institut Géographi- que National Congolaise; Global Witness, “Faced with a gun, what can you do?”, 2009; The Guardian press release; Institute for Environmental Security, interactive database, accessed in March 2012.

Bukavu

0 20 Km

Figure 9: Illegal logging directly fuels many conflicts, as timber is a resource available for conflict profiteers or to finance arms sales. Without public order, militants, guerrillas or military units impose taxes on logging companies or charcoal producers, issue false export permits and control border points. They frequently demand the removal of all vehicle checkpoints and public patrolling of resource-rich areas as part of the peace conditions following new land claims and offensives.

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