A study carried out by the group future planet Y THE COUNTRY revealed evidence that reveals the seriousness of an irrefutable problem: it is about the illegal extraction of strategic tree species, minerals and metals destined for the world market.
A TRUTH THAT UNMASKS POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS
The report confirms that in Río Abajo, a subsidiary of the Booming Group International company, registered in Hong Kong, is felling threatened trees against what is established by Congolese law.
In line with the above, it was found that the Chinese mining company headed by Xiang Jiang Mining, Deputy General Manager of the Treasury and Finance Department of Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd, has illegally extracted precious minerals in recent years.
This makes visible the total impunity that is hidden behind government authorities, corporations and economic businesses. In times of climate emergency, instead of joining forces to implement actions and policies that safeguard the environment, the planet continues to be destroyed at the cost of the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources.
The study confirms that various Chinese-owned companies are also illegally extracting resources in the tropical forests of northern Congo. And at this point, it should be stressed that they work in complicity with logging permits on demand and specifically refers to the fact that they deliberately extract and export minerals.
At the same time, a systematic violation of labor and human rights is unleashed. Thus, the authorities have traded in Congolese forests at the expense of communities, putting biodiversity and ecosystems at risk.
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WORLD PRODUCTION, MILLIONS OF EUROS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ON ALERT
It should be noted that, to the north of the Democratic Republic of Congopunctually in Yaliwasa 200-year-old precious woods are found rotting in the middle of the jungle.
Which is the reason? This is due, as the experts announced, to the fact that they were felled immediately to be exported to processing centers from China. Subsequently, they are redistributed to prestigious markets of Asia and other continents. However, they stated that the large amount of wood is disintegrating, spoiling.
Specifically, there is an urgent need to carry out an analysis in this regard… the facts reveal a reality that compromises the world. Species, the environment, and ecosystems are endangered by human-led criminal behavior.
CHEATING AND CORRUPTION OF CHINESE MARKETS
Irregular permits to log and export afrormosia wood lead to the species being under threat, given that international demand led it to total extinction in countries such as West Africa, among others. Measurements are conspicuous by the absence of him!
On the other hand, it should not be ignored that they have been illegally extracting gold, diamonds and metals for years. And as if that were not enough, they use mercury in water that the communities then consume for bathing and drinking.
The sayings of the concession manager, guo league reflects impunity: “Other Chinese-owned concessions pay police or military to protect their interests, but we can’t afford it because our timber isn’t reaching the market.”
In short, the problem of the indiscriminate felling of trees is really serious. companies like Fodeco have applied for an annual logging permit with an inventory of imaginary trees. In complicity, it was approved by the Minister of Environment, Amy Ambatobe Nyongolo.
“The people from Fodeco came here with no experience and no translator, so they can hardly communicate with anyone,” revealed to THE COUNTRY a Congolese employee who asked to protect his identity for fear of reprisals. And continued: “We wonder how they got permission to start this business.”
And to this is added the testimony of Joseph Atukuone of the former employees of Fodeco: “Half a cup of rice a day, sleeping on the floor, without mosquito nets, without a contract, without a clinic… Are we beasts? We were very hopeful that it would be good for us, good for the community.”
Did you know that the company develops its activities in the territory of basoko? It is a swampy area with at least five industrial logging concessions, making it one of the largest palm oil plantations in the region and a permanently operating mining company.
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To conclude, we believe that this problem should challenge all of us, since it shows thousands of euros from international markets prevail over trees.