STATE OF THE RAINFOREST 2014
51
forest has high carbon content compared to the average amount of
carbon stored in tropical forests, and globally the Congo rainforest
represents about 25% of the total carbon stored in tropical forests.
26
Central Africa’s rainforest is home to vast numbers of plant and animal
species, but formal scientific knowledge about these plants and animals
is still limited. The region has some 400 recorded mammal species,
1,000 bird species and probably more than 10,000 plant species (of
which 3,000 are endemic). The threatened forest elephant, lowland
gorilla, chimpanzee, bongo and okapi have attracted world attention
but scientists are continually recording new species.
27
People depend on forest
More than 75 million people live in the Congo Basin region; the
majority are dependent on the forest and forest ecosystems for their
food, medicines, and livelihood. The indigenous pygmy peoples
(the numbers of how many they are vary), are entirely dependent
on the forest for their livelihood and culture. The forest peoples of
the Congo Basin have vast knowledge of the flora and fauna which
should be acknowledged as a valuable resource in all efforts aimed at
sustainable management of the rainforest.
Bushmeat and fisheries from the forests provide crucial protein
sources for around 30 million people living in these forested areas.
Forest products, whether directly consumed or traded, provide a
substantial portion of income for the local population. The forests
also constitute an important safety net in countries where poverty and
undernourishment are highly prevalent. Studies estimate that at least
500 plant species and 85 animal species are harvested, many of which
are used for several purposes, for food, oils and medicinal plants.
28
Extent of forest and deforestation trends
The Congo Basin is the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest,
covering approximately 2 million km
2
. While the rainforests of West
Africa and Madagascar are heavily degraded, with only patches of the
original forest left, large areas of the rainforest in the Congo Basin
are still intact. This is particularly the case for the “forest giant” of
the region, DRC, which has almost 20% of the world’s remaining
rainforest within its borders. According to the FAO,
29
51% of the forest
in DRC and 65% of the forest in Gabon is primary forest and, whereas
the other Congo Basin counties have lower percentages. These figures
are highly uncertain, however.
30
Deforestation in the Africa’s rainforests
in other areas than the Congo Basin is extremely high. In West Africa
deforestation rates are three times as high, and in Madagascar nine
times as high.
31
The FAO reports a relatively low deforestation rate in
the “Congo Basin rainforest region” at an annual net loss of –0.23% for
1990–2010.
32
The loss for DRC is slightly lower, at –0.20% annually
over the past two decades.
33
The FAO figures are disputed, however. A
recent World Bank report on the Congo Basin
34
shows a doubling of
annual deforestation in the period 2000–2005 (0.28% ), compared to
the previous decade.
35
A study by the University of Maryland
36
reports
forest loss in the region’s dense tropical rainforest (76–100% tree
cover) of approximately 0,25 % annually in the period 2000–2012, but
far higher deforestation when less dense forest is included.
The data on deforestation is conflicting, and it is generally agreed that
there is a need for better monitoring and analysis of the Congo Basin
rainforest. Most studies predict an increase in deforestation in the
Congo Basin in the years to come.
Threats
There is controversy about what the major drivers of deforestation in
the Congo Basin are, and a lack of reliable data. Compared to other
rainforest regions, small scale agriculture is a relatively more important
deforestation factor in the Congo Basin, especially in densely populated
areas. Most experts see expansion of agriculture and plantations, roads
and extractive industries as the major challenge. Roads are among the
most robust predictors of tropical deforestation,
37
as they open up areas
for large scale exploitation.
38
Urbanisation causes pressure on forests
due to demand for timber and charcoal from the towns and cities.
39
According to the FAO, ‘With escalating prices of minerals, fuel and
food, mining and large-scale land acquisition for oil palm and cash
crops appear set to become the leading causes of deforestation in
Congo Basin in the forthcoming years.’
40
R
EPUBLIC
OF
C
ONGO
C
ENTRAL
A
FRICAN
R
EPUBLIC
C
AMEROON
E
QUATORIAL
G
UINEA
G
ABON
D
EMOCRATIC
R
EPUBLIC
OF
THE
C
ONGO
Source: based on Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA; FAO
1 500
500
100
1
Forest and deforestation extent
Thousands square kilometres
Annual deforestation rate
Percentage
Forest cover, 2000
FAO
FAO
University of Maryland (UMD)
UMD
Deforestation
FAO, 2000-2010
University of Maryland
2000-2012
0,0
0,2
0,4
0,6
0,8
1,0
1,2
Note: Data sets from UMD and FAO have signi cant di erences as di erent
methods of quantifying forest extend and deforestation are used
Extent of rainforest and deforestation in
Central Africa
