The region of Beni, plagued by growing insecurity for a decade now, is witnessing an environmental crime denounced by the Collective of Youth for the Protection of Nature and the Environment (COJUPEN).
Besides the loss of lives, injuries, and looting, insecurity is also having a devastating impact on the environment.
The coordinator of COJUPEN, Mr. Viambithe Kasereka, emphasizes that insecurity significantly hampers environmental protection activities in the Beni region. According to him, “insecurity tends to particularly impact activities related to environmental protection and conservation.”
The consequences of this insecurity are being felt on the region’s fauna and flora. Mr. Kasereka has highlighted the alarming extinction of several species, particularly elephants, in the Virunga National Park. He also denounces the destruction of animal habitats and the endangerment of the environment due to the improper management of hazardous waste.
COJUPEN calls on the Congolese government and institutions supporting environmental initiatives for urgent intervention in favor of environmental protection in the Beni region, where illegal exploitation or overexploitation of resources is observed.
The headquarters of the Collective of Youth for the Protection of Nature (COJUPEN) is located at the Kasindi border post in the Beni region, North Kivu, in the East of the DRC.
By Fred MASTAKI