At approximately 500 million acres is one of the most important equatorial wilderness areas left on earth, the Congo Basin. It hosts the Congo rainforest, which stands as the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest and the Congo River, the second-largest river basin in the world. The Congo Basin spans across six countries:-
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
The Congo Rainforest
The rainforest is home to over 10,000 plant species and many endangered animals. It is famous for its gorillas, chimpanzees and elephants. The rainforests provide food, medicine, water, materials and shelter for over 75 million people.
The tropical rainforest plays a vital role in regulating our climate. The trees are considered more resilient to climate change than those in the Amazon. They absorb more than a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. The peatlands (swamps) is estimated to cover about 16.7 million hectares. This can fit more than 100 Olympic swimming pools. The peats act as a carbon sink removing and holding carbon from the atmosphere.
The Congo River
The Congo River was named after the Kingdom Kongo. It is the deepest river in the world and discharges a volume of water that is second only to the Amazon River. It formed approximately 1.5 to 2 million years ago during the Pleistocene period. It hosts more than 4,000 islands on it, with fifty of them being at least ten miles long. It is the world’s greatest reserve of untapped hydropower and the only major river to cross the equator twice.
The rainforest captures carbon and therefore deforestation risks releasing that carbon into the atmosphere. African climate activists are highlighting the importance of preserving the rainforest. They are asking countries to support this by moving away from fossil fuels alongside initiatives like tree planting, logging, palm oil plantation and mining, which are all endangering the forest.
Community forestry, where indigenous people are once again the stewards of the land, is highly encouraged. So far, deforestation has dropped by 23% on the national average and 46% in the logging areas. Communities are motivated to protect their own environment. This is crucial for biodiversity and the world’s climate.
It is vital that we come together to protect one of the most important areas on earth for the health of our planet, so what can you do to help? You can support local organizations that are fighting deforestation and standing up for indigenous rights like Mbou Mon Tour, Actions pour la Promotion et Protection des Peuples et Especes Menaces (APEM) or Dynamique Des Groupes Des Peuples Autochtones.