Balancing Extractive Activities and Biodiversity Conservation in the Congo Basin: Opportunities for Green Growth

The Congo Basin forest is the second largest intact tropical rainforest in the world and also contains mineral deposits of economic importance. This paper discuss challenges and opportunities for balancing extractive sector activities and biodiversity conservation in the Congo Basin. First, we discuss economic development, human resources and governance challenges in the region and highlight the impacts and threats linked to mining (large and small-scale) and other extractive industries. We then discuss the concept of green economy at several levels (international, other African countries) and propose to adapt it to the Congo Basin by making use of No-Net-Loss principles. This proposed green economy model aims to enable green growth through ensuring “win-win-win” outcomes for people, nature and the extractive sector.