Satellite Imagery Reveals M23’s Environmental Destruction in Eastern DRC

What’s happening in the forests of eastern DRC isn’t just a side effect of war - it’s part of how armed groups survive and finance their operations. Thanks to modern satellite technology, the scale and pace of this destruction can finally be tracked, measured and documented with a level of detail that wasn’t possible before.

This article outlines what satellite imagery reveals, why these findings matter, and how remote sensing has become an essential tool for understanding the hidden environmental dimensions of the war in DRC.

Historical Context: Who M23 Is and Why the Kivus Matter

M23 (March 23 Movement) emerged in 2012 in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Formed largely by soldiers who defected from the national army, the group seized key towns and strategic territory before being pushed back in 2013. After years of relative inactivity, M23 returned in 2021 with far greater strength, launching a new offensive that has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and reshaped control across the region.

The Kivu provinces - North and South Kivu - are some of Africa’s most resource-rich and environmentally sensitive regions. They host dense tropical forests, volcanic terrain, endangered wildlife habitats, fertile farmland and valuable mineral deposits. Control over land here has always been linked to political power and economic survival.

Much of this territory is remote, heavily forested or unsafe due to ongoing fighting. Independent observers rarely gain access, making satellite imagery one of the only reliable ways to understand what is happening on the ground - from troop movements to village destruction and environmental losses.

As M23 has expanded its influence, satellite data shows growing evidence of deforestation, charcoal production and land-use change in and around areas under its control. Historical imagery makes it possible to compare landscapes before and after the militia’s resurgence, revealing patterns that would otherwise remain hidden.

What Satellite Imagery Reveals in M23-Controlled Areas

Despite the challenges of on-the-ground reporting, satellite imagery offers an independent and objective view of what is happening in territories influenced by M23. Over the past two years, analysts and humanitarian groups have relied on high-resolution imagery from Sentinel-2, Airbus and Vantor to monitor environmental change across the Kivus.

The results are consistent - and increasingly alarming.

Rapid Decline of Forest Cover

Time-series analysis shows accelerated deforestation in areas recently taken over by M23. Common indicators include:

• expanding clearings along ridges and forest edges,

• new footpaths and vehicle tracks through protected areas,

• a patchwork pattern typical of charcoal production sites.

In Masisi, Rutshuru and Nyiragongo, forest loss often appears within weeks of territorial shifts, suggesting organized extraction rather than small-scale local use.

Photo Credits: Before Forest in Kahuzi-Biega National Park near Kasopo village, Kabare territory, on Jan. 11, 2025. After Satellite image of forest loss on June 25, 2025. Image credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025. Source: mongabay.com

Charcoal Production Hotspots

Satellite images reveal clusters of dark circular burn pits - signatures of charcoal kilns - multiplying in protected forests such as Virunga National Park.

Imagery helps map:

• new kiln locations,

• transport routes,

• expanding illicit trade corridors.

These patterns align with long-standing reports that charcoal taxation is a key revenue stream for M23.

Mine de Rubaya before and afrer satellite image. In 2009, Rubaya appears to be largely pastoral, with only minor mining sites. But by 2021, illegal mining activity has expanded drastically. Source: google earth. 

New Military Positions and Makeshift Camps

High-resolution images show newly constructed camps on hilltops, often carved into previously forested slopes. Visible features include:

• defensive trenches,

• tents and semi-permanent shelters,

• widened roads for vehicle access.

These camps frequently appear next to freshly cleared forest, where trees are removed for firewood, defensive lines or improved visibility.

Abandoned Villages and Displacement Trails

Satellite imagery also highlights the human impact of the conflict:

• entire villages emptied,

• burned or destroyed houses,

• broad vegetation scars marking displacement routes carved by thousands fleeing on foot.

These signatures match areas of recent fighting or militia advances.

How Analysts Verify and Interpret These Findings

Interpreting conflict-related environmental changes requires more than comparing before-and-after images. Analysts combine technical methods with contextual data to ensure reliability.

How OnGeo Intelligence Fits Into This Work

Satellite-based investigations - whether focused on conflict, environmental degradation or humanitarian risks - depend on accessible data, clear visual tools and efficient workflows. This is where OnGeo naturally fits into the process. We provides imagery from numerous missions, allowing analysts to quickly view: Sentinel-2 and high-resolution commercial imagery when detailed verification is needed.

OnGeo hosts processed maps, annotated imagery and analysis layers - a dependable archive for: journalists, humanitarian organizations, researchers documenting environmental crimes. This ensures deforestation events, burned villages or forced displacement routes remain accessible and verifiable.

Final Thoughts

The forests of eastern DRC are more than dense vegetation - they support communities, shelter wildlife and serve as vital carbon sinks. The ongoing M23 conflict is both a humanitarian crisis and an environmental emergency, as militia activity accelerates deforestation, illegal logging and habitat destruction.

Satellite imagery brings visibility to issues that would otherwise stay hidden. High-resolution images and time-series maps reveal the true scale of environmental damage in near real-time, helping organizations respond more effectively and advocate for accountability.