CONGO BASIN

1. Introduction

The Congo Basin is a region of Central Africa that is drained by the Congo River and its tributaries. It is the second largest rainforest in the world, after the Amazon Rainforest. The Congo Basin spans across six countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.

Nigeria, South Sudan, and Uganda are not part of the Congo Basin. Nigeria is located in West Africa, while South Sudan and Uganda are located in East Africa.

There are approximately 10, 000 species of tropical plants in the Congo Basin and 30 percent are unique to the region. Endangered wildlife, including forest elephants, chimpanzees, bonobos, and lowland and mountain gorillas inhabit the lush forests. 400 other species of mammals, 1,000 species of birds, and 700 species of fish can also be found here.

The Congo Basin has been inhabited by humans for more than 50,000 years and it provides food, fresh water, and shelter to more than 75 million people. Nearly 150 distinct ethnic groups exist and the region’s Ba’Aka people are among the most well-known representatives of an ancient hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Their lives and well-being are linked intimately with the forest.

Image source: Google

2. People and Communities

• Humans have inhabited the forests of the Congo Basin for tens of thousands of years. Today, the Congo Basin provides food, medicine, water, materials, and shelter for over 75 million people.
• Among some 150 different ethnic groups, the Ba'Aka, BaKa, BaMbuti, Efe, and other related groups often referred to as Pygmies are today's most visible representatives of an ancient hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
• They possess an incredible knowledge of the forest, its animals, and its medicinal plants.
• Most people in the Congo Basin remain heavily dependent on the forest for subsistence and raw materials, as a complement to agricultural activities. As populations rise, pressure on forests continues to increase.
• Forest edges of the forest-savanna mosaic bear the brunt of the population density, along with the banks of the larger navigable rivers, including the Congo and Ubangi Rivers.
• The construction of roads has greatly facilitated access to the interior of the forest, and many people have relocated close to roads. But logging, oil palm plantations, population growth, and road development have strained the traditional resource management system.
• The Congo Basin covers some of the poorest countries on Earth. By focusing on the protection and sustainable use of natural resources, WWF seeks to ensure that the Congo Basin's forest and freshwater ecosystems will continue to be a major source of livelihood improvement for the region's people.

3. Demand for Natural Resources

• The Congo Basin is abundant in natural resources such as timber, diamonds, and petroleum, but current methods and rates of extracting these resources are unsustainable and threaten the future of this vast wilderness area.
• In addition, unsustainable hunting of wildlife for the commercial bushmeat market threatens to wipe out many species.
• The Congo Basin is extremely rich in wood, oil, and minerals such as diamonds, gold, and coltan (used to make cell phones).
• Many people depend on such resources for their livelihoods, and the global demand for these materials is increasing.
• A large and growing percentage of the Congo Basin is under concession to logging and mining companies.
• Such industries bring large groups of people to the forest and with that come their need for food, including bushmeat and fuelwood. Related infrastructure projects such as roads and dams have environmental impacts and increase access to remote forest areas for hunters.

4. Illegal wildlife trade

• The leading cause of wildlife loss in the Congo Basin is the commercial bushmeat trade, driven by an ever-increasing market. In the DRC alone, over a million tons of bushmeat are consumed each year.
• Alarmingly, this lucrative business is causing the forest to become empty of species. Animals like monkeys and antelope are common targets, although species such as gorillas and bonobos are also at risk.
• Combating the bushmeat trade presents many challenges. In remote areas, bushmeat is the primary source of income for families, as it is the only export that will earn a profit. WWF works with communities to create alternatives.
• The international demand for ivory still drives the killing of elephants, leading to local extinctions and threatening to eliminate elephants.
• WWF plays an important role in fighting illegal trade, including through TRAFFIC, the world’s largest wildlife trade monitoring network.

5. Deforestation

• In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), refugees from armed conflict are forced to live off the land with severe impacts on forests and wildlife.
• For example, the demand for fuelwood and charcoal has led to deforestation in Virunga National Park, the oldest national park in Africa.
• Palm oil plantations and other commercial agriculture operations are a growing threat, putting greater pressure on the Congo’s forests and rivers.

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