CONGO BASIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEFORESTATION OF THE CONGO BASIN

 

Deforestation is the irreversible destruction of standing forests for a number of reasons, with numerous disastrous repercussions.

 Cutting, clearing, and relocation of rainforest or comparable habitats into less bio-diverse ecosystems such as grassland, crops, or plantations are further examples.

 

The Congo Basin is a Central African area notable for its tropical rainforests and marshes.

It is the Congo River's sedimentary basin, spanning six countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. The Congo Basin is the world's second-largest tropical forest, encompassing 500 million acres (the size of Alaska).

 

It is also the world's greatest carbon sink, absorbing more carbon than the Amazon.

 

The Congo Basin is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including mountain gorillas, bonobos, chimps, forest elephants, and many others.

 

The region also has indigenous and local inhabitants that rely on the forest for survival. The Congo Basin has been of importance to Africa and they are as follows:

 

Carbon absorption: The Congo Basin is the world's greatest carbon sink, absorbing more CO2 than the Amazon. The Congo Basin's peat swamp forest alone stores around 29 billion tons of carbon, which is roughly equivalent to three years' worth of global greenhouse gas emissions. The whole Basin absorbs almost 1.5 billion tons of CO2 every year.

This carbon absorption adds to cleaner air and helps to offset the consequences of climate change.

 

Moisture transport: During the summer rainy season, air passing across West African rainforests transfers 38% of the moisture that reaches the Highlands. This moisture movement is critical to maintaining the water cycle and facilitating rainfall in the region.

 

Climate regulation: The extensive rainforest and peatlands of the Congo Basin contribute to manage the climate by affecting air circulation patterns and keeping a constant temperature. This climate control helps to improve the region's overall air quality.

 

Biodiversity: The Congo Basin is famous for its enormous, charismatic animal species, such as the lowland gorilla, the okapi, a type of forest giraffe, forest elephants, chimps, leopards, and hippos. The Basin also has around 10,000 tropical plant species, 30% of which are unique to the area. The preservation of the Congo Basin contributes to the region's biodiversity.

 

Food and water: The Congo Basin offers food and water to tens of millions of Africans. The existence of these populations is dependent on the maintenance of the Basin's forest and freshwater habitats.

 

Habitat preservation: The Congo Basin is home to a broad range of animals, including endangered fauna like forest elephants, chimps, bonobos, and lowland and mountain gorillas. The Congo Basin's lush forests offer home for many animals, which helps to protect their numbers.

 

Keystone species: The Congo Basin is home to keystone species such as the bonobo, which is critical to the forest's diversity and survival. Bonobos are renowned as tropical gardeners, and their existence contributes to the preservation of the forest's environment.

 

The conservation of the Congo Basin forests is critical not just for the future of Africa, but also for the rest of the globe, because they play an important role in carbon absorption, moisture transfer, and climate control. The destruction of these trees might have serious effects for the region's air quality and climate.

 

EFFECT OF DEFORESTATION OF THE CONGO BASIN IN AFRICA

 

The deforestation of the Congo Basin has a huge negative impact not on Africa alone but the world at large and here are some of these impacts:

 

Emission of Methane: Deforestation can also result in the emission of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. When forests are burned or trees are chopped down and left to rot, methane is emitted.

 

Nitrous oxide: Another strong greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change is nitrous oxide, which can be released as a result of deforestation. When forests are burned or trees are chopped down and left to degrade, nitrous oxide is created.

 

Emission of Carbon dioxide: Deforestation emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming and climate change. The Congo Basin's peat swamp forest alone stores around 29 billion tons of carbon, which is roughly equivalent to three years' worth of global greenhouse gas emissions. Peatland draining and burning emits roughly 2 billion tons of CO2 each year through oxidation or fires.

 

Particulate matter: Deforestation may also cause particulate matter to be released into the air, which can be harmful to humans and animals. Particulate matter has been linked to respiratory disorders, heart disease, and other health concerns.

 

Destruction of wildlife habitat: Damage of animal habitat: Unsustainable and illegal logging in the Congo Basin Forest by both large and small firms is causing deforestation and habitat damage. Many animal species, especially endangered fauna such as forest elephants, chimps, bonobos, and lowland and mountain gorillas, are threatened by habitat degradation.

 

 

 

Food and water supplies are jeopardized: The Congo Basin provides food and freshwater to tens of millions of Africans. Continued deforestation may worsen freshwater and food supply instability for some of Africa's most vulnerable communities.

 

Soil erosion: Deforestation can cause soil erosion, which can harm agricultural and food production. Soil erosion can also cause increased sedimentation in rivers and streams, threatening aquatic habitats.

 

Biodiversity loss: The Congo Basin is home to a varied range of animals, including endangered species such as forest elephants, chimps, bonobos, and lowland and mountain gorillas. Deforestation disrupts these species' habitats, resulting in biodiversity loss.

 

Reduced resistance to climate change: The Congo Basin is the world's greatest carbon sink, absorbing more carbon than the Amazon. Deforestation diminishes the forest's ability to absorb carbon, resulting in higher greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Reduced resistance to climate change might have serious effects for Africa's people and wildlife.

 

REFERENCE

 

1.     Deforestation - National Geographic Education

 

2.     Congo Rainforest and Basin | Places | WWF - World Wildlife Fund

 

3.     Congo Basin - Wikipedia

 

4.     Congo Basin Deforestation Threatens Food and Water Supplies Throughout Africa

 

5.     Congo Basin Forests - Greenpeace USA

 

6.     Critical ecosystems: Congo Basin peatlands - UNEP

 

7.     Journey into the Congo Basin – The Lungs of Africa and Beating Heart of the World

 

8.     Over a quarter of Congo Basin forests at risk of vanishing by 2050