UNEP study Confirms DR Congo's Potential As Environmental Powerhouse But Warns Of Critical Threats

• The DRC has the largest artisanal mining workforce in the world - around two million people - but a lack of controls have led to land degradation and pollution. Its untapped mineral reserves are of global importance and are estimated to be worth US$24 trillion.
• Around 15 tonnes of mercury are used annually in the DRC's artisanal gold mining operations, making it the second largest source of mercury emissions in Africa.
• http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/unep-study-confirms-dr-congos-potential-as-environmental-powerhouse-but-warns-of-critical-threats