Democratic Republic of Congo Environmental Analysis Final Report Submitted to USAID Washington and Kinshasa December 2003 Prepared by the Wildlife Conservation Society TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1 DEMOCRATIC REPUBILC OF CONGO ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................................................................................7 2 PURPOSE AND APPROACH............................................................................................................................14 3 THE CONTEXT OF D.R. C. .............................................................................................................................16 3.1 PHYSICAL ...............................................................................................................................................................16 3.2 BIOLOGICAL ...........................................................................................................................................................18 3.3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT....................................................................................................................................20 3.4 THE LEGAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT....................................................................................................................24 3.5 CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT....................................25 3.6 EXISTING LAWS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................25 3.7 ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IN DRC .................................................................................................25 3.8 LABOR DIVISION BETWEEN DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIVE AND TERRITORIAL ENTITIES ...........................................26 3.9 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND TREATIES SIGNED BY DRC............................................................................27 4 INSTITUTIONAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ...........29 4.1 FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE MANAGEMENT POLICY .......................................................................................29 4.2 THE ROLE OF MECN IN RELATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY............................................................................30 4.3 CIVIL SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................31 4.4 PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION .........................................31 4.5 UNIVERSITIES .........................................................................................................................................................31 4.6 FINANCIAL BASIS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION........................................................33 5 ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS AND THREATS .............................................................................................34 5.1 FRESHWATER, COASTAL, AND MARINE RESOURCES................................................................................................34 5.2 THE CONGO RIVER .................................................................................................................................................37 5.2.1 The upper Congo ...............................................................................................................................................37 5.2.2 The mid Congo...................................................................................................................................................37 5.2.3 The Lower Congo: .............................................................................................................................................39 5.3 THE COASTAL WATERS ..........................................................................................................................................40 5.4 THE LAKES OF DRC ...............................................................................................................................................40 5.4.1 Lake Tanganyika................................................................................................................................................40 5.4.2 Lake Kivu...........................................................................................................................................................41 5.4.3 Lake Edward......................................................................................................................................................41 5.4.4 Lake Albert.........................................................................................................................................................42 5.4.5 Lake Moero........................................................................................................................................................43 5.4.6 Lake Upemba .....................................................................................................................................................43 5.4.7 Lake Tumba .......................................................................................................................................................43 5.4.8 Lake Maindombe................................................................................................................................................44 5.5 AIR QUALITY, URBAN WATER RESOURCES, URBAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT. ....................................44 5.5.1 Air Quality .........................................................................................................................................................44 5.5.1.1 Agriculture:................................................................................................................................................................45 5.5.1.2 Transportation-related air pollution:..........................................................................................................................45 5.5.1.3 Industry:.....................................................................................................................................................................45 5.5.1.4 Mining: ......................................................................................................................................................................45 5.5.1.5 Oil extraction:............................................................................................................................................................46 5.5.2 Urban water resources: .....................................................................................................................................46 WCS. Democratic Republic of Congo Environmental Analysis (USAID) 1 5.5.3 Urban environment management: .....................................................................................................................46 5.5.3.1 Sanitation systems: ....................................................................................................................................................47 5.5.3.2 Municipal solid waste:...............................................................................................................................................47 5.5.3.3 Industrial Waste:........................................................................................................................................................48 5.5.4 Mining: ..............................................................................................................................................................49 5.5.4.1 Environmental impacts of mining..............................................................................................................................49 5.5.4.2 New legal framework for environmental management of the mining sector: ............................................................52 5.5.5 Energy: ..............................................................................................................................................................53 5.5.5.1 Electricity ..................................................................................................................................................................53 5.5.5.2 Wood .........................................................................................................................................................................53 5.5.5.3 Crude oil production:.................................................................................................................................................53 5.6 STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY .......................................................................................................................................56 5.6.1 Natural ecosystems ............................................................................................................................................56 5.6.1.1 Range of ecosystems: ................................................................................................................................................56 5.6.2 Agricultural sector.............................................................................................................................................57 5.6.2.1 Agricultural