East Africa’s rapid expansion in critical minerals mining is delivering strong economic gains, but new evidence shows it is also placing mounting pressure on forests, ecosystems and conservation efforts across the region.
As global demand rises for minerals such as cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel, manganese and graphite, countries in the region have become key suppliers for technologies linked to renewable energy, electric vehicles and advanced electronics. This surge has significantly boosted export earnings and strengthened regional trade performance.
Recent data from the East African Community (EAC) shows that rising mineral exports have helped push the region’s total international merchandise trade to $46.3 billion in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 30.7% increase year-on-year. Minerals, particularly ores and precious metals, have become major drivers of this growth.
However, researchers and environmental experts warn that this economic expansion is coming at a steep ecological cost.
Mining boom linked to rising deforestation
New scientific findings indicate that mining activities are contributing significantly to deforestation across sub-Saharan Africa, including East Africa. A study published in Nature found that mining operations triggered extensive forest loss beyond their direct footprint, particularly in regions where extraction of cobalt and copper is expanding rapidly.
Researchers analysed data from more than 16,000 mines between 2001 and 2020 and found that 187,000 hectares of land were directly cleared for mining. More importantly, they discovered that mining indirectly accelerates deforestation by attracting settlement growth, agriculture expansion and infrastructure development around mining sites.
The study estimated that every hectare of forest directly cleared by mining leads to an additional 58.1 hectares of forest loss through secondary activities such as farming and urban expansion.
Mining was also found to increase deforestation by around 8% within a one-kilometre radius of mining sites compared to non-mining areas.
Conservation under pressure in mineral-rich zones
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), one of the world’s richest sources of cobalt and copper, illustrates the tension between economic opportunity and environmental protection. Home to nearly 60% of the Congo Basin rainforest, the country plays a critical role in global carbon storage and biodiversity conservation.
Yet mining expansion is increasingly encroaching on forested areas. Researchers estimate that tens of thousands of hectares of forest have been directly cleared for mining infrastructure such as open pits, roads and tailings facilities, with far larger losses occurring indirectly.
Experts warn that mining-driven land-use change is also displacing agricultural communities deeper into forest areas, further accelerating land clearing and ecosystem degradation.
Balancing economic growth and environmental sustainability
While mineral exports are boosting revenues across East Africa, conservationists argue that weak enforcement of environmental safeguards is undermining long-term sustainability.
Policy analysts have called for stricter Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), stronger monitoring of mining operations and greater accountability for companies operating in ecologically sensitive areas. They argue that mining approvals should include full economic and environmental valuations to determine whether long-term ecological losses outweigh short-term financial gains.
There are also growing calls for regional coordination among African mineral-producing countries to establish common governance standards for critical minerals development, ensuring that environmental protections are not undermined by competition for investment.
Global demand intensifies local pressures
The race for critical minerals is being driven by global energy transition goals and rising demand for clean technologies. As a result, East Africa has become a strategic supply region, attracting increased investment but also intensifying pressure on land, forests and rural communities.
Experts warn that without stronger safeguards, the expansion of mining could permanently alter ecosystems that are vital not only for biodiversity but also for climate regulation and food security.
The challenge ahead
East Africa now faces a difficult balancing act: leveraging its vast mineral wealth to drive economic growth while preventing irreversible environmental damage. As mining activity expands, the future of the region’s forests—and the communities that depend on them—will depend on how effectively governments enforce conservation policies alongside industrial development.