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| - Map created by Microsoft Co Pilot |
The Congo Basin is the second largest area of tropical rainforest after the Amazon. It spans six countries -the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, though 60% of it falls within the (DRC). It is also the world’s largest carbon sink.
Its annual rainfall is around 1500 – 2500 mm a year and its even temperature makes home sweet home to over 10,000 different species including bonobos and gorillas. One third of them aren't found anywhere else. It also supports some 60 -70 million people most of whom are extremely poor.
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| -Image Pierre Fidenci, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons |
Deforestation in the
green heart of Africa was relatively low until 2010, but has picked up pace for
logging, mining and agriculture. Over two million hectares were cleared between 2015
and 2020. In 2021 it was 636 hectares and in 2024 it was 105,000 ha. Roads
particularly, cause fragmentation, change the ecosystem and give greater
access to wildlife traffickers.
As President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, remarked at the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos,
“If we fail to preserve the last remaining tropical forest carbon sink on Earth, then it will not just be the Congolese that pay the price."
| Metric | Status |
|---|---|
| Size | 2 Million km2 or 500 million acres across 6 countries (60% in DRC) |
| Carbon role | Largest tropical forest carbon sink—absorbs 1.5 billion tonnes CO₂/year |
| Peatlands | Store 29 billion tonnes of carbon—~3 years of global emissions |
| Biodiversity | 10,000+ plant species, 1,000+ bird species, bonobos, okapis, forest elephants |
| People | Supports 75 million people, many in extreme poverty |
Protecting the Congo
Given the importance of rainforests to the rest of the world as well as those who live there, several major strands are emerging with respect to their conservation, including the Congo.
The first, as we’ll see in several other regions, is the establishment of ‘Green Corridors’ which are essential for maintaining biodiversity. This applies not only to large mammals which need extensive ranges for foraging and mating, but also for other species as the impact of Climate Change becomes more apparent.
It is hoped that they will allow species to migrate, should their existing habitat become unliveable due to drying, drought, fire or changing vegetation. Unfortunately, not all species will benefit. Those whose ranges are already highly specialised such as those which live at higher elevations, may not find another niche which meets their requirements. Higher peaks often have poor soils and few trees for example, and climate change is happening much faster than most species can adapt. It does however, give more species a better chance of survival. That is one of the aims of the Kivu – Kinshasa Green Corridor.
Closely related, is the need to restore and protect watersheds and water supplies. See for example, the nine Plant with Purpose Watershed Projects in East Africa which have not only reduced hunger but tension and violence between communities.
The third is the importance of finding alternative livelihoods for existing populations which rely on rainforests for their survival. As an elder from the Gabon Forests – part of the Congo Basin, remarked in 2022.
“Mr President, you’ve protected the elephants, but who protects us? Our fields are trampled, our children go hungry. If these elephants are so important, perhaps they should be the ones casting ballots in the next election, because it seems our voices are not being heard.”
This highlights the importance of involving local populations in planning and carrying out any conservation measures and is a key feature of most new programs, rather than solely focusing on forest restoration and species survival. For some ways in which this is being achieved and where conservation itself helps to create livelihoods, take a look the Restor website.
Developed by Crowther Labs at ETH in Zurich, Restor is a non -profit, science-based platform which lists around 200,000 community – led projects, organisations, companies and governments spread over 180 countries which are concerned with restoration and sustainable land use, as well as providing useful data for further expansion. Here's one specifically about the Congo Basin.
Another successful example on the World Economic Forum's website, concerns the city of Goma on the edge of Virunga National Park. In 2023, Goma had a permanent population of 782,000, but due to armed conflict in the region its numbers were greatly swelled by around 500,000 refugees. Since wood and charcoal were being used for fuel and energy, as well as to boost the coffers of armed militia, the Virunga National Park was under considerable stress.
A safe water supply was created and a number of 60 MW hydro -electric generators were installed -all built and managed by young technicians from the villages. Eleven per cent of these young people had previously been part of the armed gangs which roamed the countryside. With the generators now supplying 80% of Goma’s electricity, this not only took pressure off the national park but enabled agricultural output to increase, thereby improving the food security and incomes of 30,000 farmers. It also generated an additional 21,000 jobs.
🌱 2025 Conservation Milestones in the Congo Basin:
DRC announced the Kivu–Kinshasa Green Corridor—a 540,000 km² forest reserve (size of France), as well as creating 5000 jobs. Key features include:
- 🛡️ Legal protection for key ecosystems
- 👥 Community-led conservation
- 🛰️ AI-powered satellite monitoring
- 💰 Blended public-private financing
⚠️ Ongoing Challenges:
- Weak enforcement in remote areas
- Infrastructure and mining pressures
- Long-term funding gaps
- Armed conflict and poverty in eastern DRC
The Guinean Forests of West Africa
These forests stretch over 11 countries from Guinea through Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, and into parts of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Although the Congo has been in the spotlight, the rainforests of West Africa also deserve attention because they are not only ecologically similar with a high degree of biodiversity, but they too have an influence on our climate, despite being only a quarter of the size of the Congo Basin. They are also among the most damaged of the tropical rainforests with some areas having lost up to 80% of their forest cover.
| Size | ~420,000 km² across 11 countries (~23% the size of the Congo) |
| Carbon role | Important regional carbon sink, though fragmented and under pressure |
| Forest loss | Among the most endangered tropical forests—over 80% lost in some areas |
| Biodiversity | High endemism: pygmy hippos, Diana monkeys, endemic birds and amphibians |
| People | Supports millions through farming, forest products, and cultural heritage |
Challenges
- Ecological Fragmentation: The Guinean forests are more fragmented and isolated, making species more vulnerable to extinction.
- Cultural and Political Contexts: West African nations often have different governance structures and land-use pressures than Central African countries.
- Conservation Urgency: The Guinean bloc is considered one of the most endangered tropical forest regions globally — a biodiversity hotspot under siege.
Fortunately these forests are now starting to get the
environmental attention they deserve. Both they and the Congo Basin are now recognised under the Guineo-Congolian
biome, and recent initiatives like the Global Environment Facility's (GEF) 8 Critical Forests Program treat
them as part of a shared ecological and policy challenge via two major programs:
- The Congo Forest Integrated Programme (led by UNEP) focuses on governance and forest protection across six Central African countries.
- The Guinean Forests Integrated Programme (led by Conservation International) targets sustainable land use and forest governance in West Africa. class
Partially funded by the Global Environment Facility, these programs will strengthen protected areas, create wildlife corridors and combat wildlife trafficking as well as empowering indigenous communities. They focus on transboundary cooperation, policy coherence, and shared learning, acknowledging that while the forests differ, they face interconnected threats and opportunities. Already over 30 protected areas have mapped and prioritised for support.
Next we'll be moving on to the tropical rainforests of SE Asia.
Thanks to Microsoft Copilot for assistance with the map, tables and other info in this post.
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