The doctoral thesis of Malte Ladewig shows the role mining plays in the deforestation and the securing of livelihoods in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The doctoral thesis of Malte Ladewig investigates the interplay of mineral extraction, livelihoods and forest conservation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The analyses relied on statistical models, geospatial data from satellite images and data collected from household surveys. Results showed that the extraction of minerals that are critical for many technological devices, such as phones and laptops, has a substantial impact on deforestation of the Congo Basin rainforest. But they also showed that mining provides an important income opportunity for the rural population. Further, findings suggest that the current system of protecting the forest is not effective in halting the continuing loss. The thesis therefore highlights the need of implementing effective ways of forest conservation without compromising the lives of people in the DRC.