Cote d’Ivoire’s Mines Risk Degrading Its Fragile Environment

Can the country balance an expanding mining sector with protecting its remaining forests and farming-dependent economy?

Côte d’Ivoire’s expanding mining industry could serve the public interest but poses environmental threats to a country heavily dependent on agriculture and subsistence farming.

The government aims to increase mining’s contribution to gross domestic product from 3% to 6%. Since revising its mining code in 2014, the focus has been on diversifying the gold-dominated sector. Due to…