Between a rock and a hard place: Livelihood diversification through artisanal mining in the Eastern DR Congo

Rural households in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that integrate artisanal mining with traditional farming report higher food security compared to non-mining households. However, increased reliance on mining leads to reduced agricultural land cultivation, highlighting a trade-off between livelihood diversification and environmental sustainability. This study used household surveys around Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Itombwe Nature Reserve, analyzed through hurdle regression modeling, to demonstrate that artisanal mining serves as both a complementary and substitutory livelihood strategy in the context of prolonged conflict, poor governance, and declining soil fertility.

Ladewig, M., Cuni-Sanchez, A., Angelsen, A., Imani, G., Baderha, G. K. R., Bulonvu, F., & Kalume, J. (2025). Between a rock and a hard place: Livelihood diversification through artisanal mining in the Eastern DR Congo. Resources Policy, 106, 105613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105613