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Congo Basin: The Rainforest World Forgot
18 Nov
Summary
- The Congo Basin, Earth's second-largest rainforest, receives minimal global climate funding.
- It is a vital carbon sink but faces increasing deforestation and underfunding.
- International funding imbalances favor the Amazon and Southeast Asia over the Congo.
The Congo Basin, Earth's second-largest tropical rainforest, is critically underrepresented in global climate policy and funding initiatives. Despite its immense ecological importance as a vital carbon sink and a provider of rainfall across the African continent, it receives significantly less international financial support compared to the Amazon and rainforests in Southeast Asia. This disparity, totaling $3.2 billion between 2008 and 2022, compared to $9.3 billion for the Amazon, hinders vital research and conservation efforts.
Home to millions and boasting unique biodiversity, the Congo Basin's forests remain largely intact, making it a powerful carbon sink. However, accelerating deforestation from logging and mining threatens this balance, with recent findings indicating a decline in its carbon absorption rates. A critical lack of funding for scientific research, which accounted for only 0.1% of international aid, results in a significant knowledge gap about the region's current ecological status.
Addressing the underfunding requires overcoming perceptions of instability and corruption, which are often used as excuses for inaction. Supporting the Congo Basin is not charity but a global necessity to maintain Earth's climate stability. The region's inhabitants have borne the cost of preserving this critical ecosystem for the world, yet receive no compensation, highlighting an urgent need for equitable climate action and investment.
