Congo Basin

location - 6 countries

C

cameroon, equatorial guinea, DRC, CAR, gabon, republic of congo 

size (acres)

500 million

how much is in DRC

2/3

what % of the world’s remaining rainforest does it make up? 

18

population

75 million

num of ethnic groups

150

hunter-gatherer people

ba’aka people

annual precipitation

2000mm

avg temperatures (degrees C)

20-27

impact of climate on vegetation

humidity and rainfall create conditions for plant growth

interdependence between strangler fig - mammals

strangler fig seeds deposited by mammals. need trees to grow around, provide food source for mammals and fig fruits for bonobo 

interdependence between congolese people - trees

reliant on bush meat, use trees for traditional medicines

interdependence between moabi tree-elephant

elephants use moabi as food source, moabi use elephants for seed dispersal

value to humans - number of tropical plants forests with potential to fight cancer

1400

value to humans - moabi trees use in medicine

make over 50 traditional drugs

value to humans - natural resources

many eg tin diamond copper coltan

value to humans - coltan usage

supplies 80% of world supply - used for small electronic devices

value to humans - energy resources

rich with oil, solar, high potential for HEP

value to humans - tourism

home to rare wildlife which can be a magnet for tourism - kickstarts local multiplier effects in economies

value to planet - num of mammal species

400

value to planet - num of bird species

1000

value to planet - endangered species who rely on forest

mountain gorillas, forests elephants, bonobo, okapi

value to planet - num of plant species

10000 30% unique to region

value to planet - climate regulation

exchanges water and energy with atmosphere controlling local and regional climates

value to planet - carbon storage

20 gigatons of carbon stored

threats - deforestation - how much is logged

Permission given for 15m hectares in DRC 

Much more done illegally (87%) 

threats - deforestation - cost of untapped mineral deposits under forest

$20trn

threats - deforestation - why is palm oil extracted

most oil intensive crop, 3m ha

threats - mining - what is mainly mined

blood diamonds

threats - mining - largest export market

china, $7bn industry 40% from DRC

threats - mining - how mining threatens biodiversity

areas are deforested - environmental degradation in proximity to mines, access roads split up rainforest and prevent migration of species

threats - bush meat trading/poaching - volume of bushmeat harvested annually

2m tonnes

threats - bush meat trading/poaching - main species harvested for meat

antelope, monkey, wild boar

threats - bush meat trading/poaching - decline in elephant population

60%

threats - bush meat trading/poaching - num of gorillas poached annually

500

management - VNP - economic positives

more tourism, 60,000 new jobs created

Jobs for 800 rangers  

Campaign mostly funded by WWF - didnt cost Virunga 

Ecotourism of 6500 people per year provides income for locals 

HEP Provides 1500 businesses with power to increase revenue and decrease the likelihood of illegal activity that could harm the forest 

management - VNP - social positives

their plan causes improved drinking water, health and education

Pollution of local lakes and villages from oil exploitation avoided 

Access to electricity from 4 HEP stations 

management - VNP - environmental positives

increased surveillance to reduce illegal logging and poaching

Decrease in illegal logging and poaching, number of gorillas x 3 since park opened 

Conservation efforts continue, fossil fuel not burned, deforestation avoided 

Attracts tourists to see biodiversity and endangered species which generates money for the park and allows for more rangers to protect the environment 

Providing electricity from Hydro Electric Power dams helps to stop logging 

management - VNP - economic negative

expensive to run and employ 700 rangers

Loss of income from oil extraction 

management - VNP - social negative

management problems

Loss of jobs from oil extraction 

Safety for tourists - limited numbers come to park as a result 

management - VNP - environmental negatives

Small local env impact of tourists and HEP dams 

Small scale - Cannot stop all poaching; in 2007 an illegal charcoal mafia murdered a family of mountain gorillas 

management - SFC from FSC - economic positive

saves forest for long term use

management - SFC from FSC - social positive

includes whether local’s rights are protected and in safe working conditions

management - SFC from FSC - environmental positive

5 million hectares have been certified

management - SFC from FSC - economic negative

only have 10000 product lines in UK, relatively small scale

management - SFC from FSC - social negative

have mismanaged donated money

management - SFC from FSC - environmental negative

only monitors logging rather than prevent it

management - WB funding - economic positive

$40 million for 120000 people

management - WB funding - social positive

improved quality cooking stoves - fewer health issues

management - WB funding - environmental positives

reduced deforestation - 5m tonne reduction in CO2, 100,000 ha of land protected

management - WB funding - economic negative

questions of how money should be divided

management - WB funding - social negatives

government has records of corruption, less focus on rural populations

management - WB funding - environmental negative

kerosene produces harmful emissions