Congo Basin Gets World’s Largest Tropical Forest Reserve to Fight Climate Change
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📰 The quick summary: The Democratic Republic of Congo passed a law to establish a 540,000 km2 green corridor in the Congo Basin, creating the world’s largest tropical forest reserve to protect biodiversity and fight climate change.
📈 One key stat: The Congo Basin absorbs 1.5 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions yearly, playing a crucial role in regulating global climate and storing three years’ worth of the world’s emissions.
💬 One key quote: “The green corridor will be very important in connecting different ecosystems so that animals can move freely (to escape predators and look for new food sources).”
1️⃣ The big picture: The Democratic Republic of Congo has taken a monumental step to protect one of Earth’s most vital ecosystems by passing legislation to create the world’s largest tropical forest reserve. This 2,600 km long green corridor will span an area the size of France within the Congo Basin, home to 50% of Africa’s tropical forests. The basin itself stretches across ten countries and contains pristine old-growth forest that remains largely unexplored by scientists. This ambitious conservation initiative aims to safeguard unique biodiversity including bonobos, Congo peafowl, and okapi, while maintaining the region’s crucial role as a carbon sink that helps regulate global climate.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This conservation effort will place an additional 15% of the Congo Basin under legal protection, including over 100,000 km2 of pristine, undisturbed forest. The plan specifically includes provisions for community rights and sustainable resource use, creating environmentally friendly jobs for the 31.5 million people living in the corridor area. This approach builds on successful models from Virunga National Park, where local communities earn income through environmental protection activities. Beyond local benefits, the green corridor helps fight global climate change by preserving one of Earth’s most effective carbon sinks while protecting countless plant and animal species, many still undiscovered by science.
3️⃣ What’s next: The government must quickly develop a funding and operational strategy that maintains scientific integrity while involving local communities. Education programs and skilled professionals will need to mobilize to communicate the plan to millions of residents. Attracting sufficient private and public investment remains crucial, with carbon credits likely to play a significant role in financing.
Read the full story here: The Conversation – DRC’s plan for the world’s largest tropical forest reserve would be good for the planet: can it succeed?
