DRC's Haut-Katanga Witnesses a Fire Incident Amidst Ongoing Tree Cover Challenges

DRC's Haut-Katanga Witnesses a Fire Incident Amidst Ongoing Tree Cover Challenges

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recently experienced a fire incident in the Haut-Katanga region. This event adds to the ongoing environmental challenges faced by the country, particularly concerning tree cover loss. Over the years, the DRC has seen a fluctuating but generally increasing trend in tree cover loss, primarily driven by shifting agriculture, which accounts for the vast majority of this loss.

Analysis of historical data reveals that the DRC has lost approximately 3.55% of its tree cover from 2001 to 2022. In 2022 alone, the country experienced a tree cover loss of over 1.20 million hectares, with shifting agriculture being responsible for nearly 99% of this loss. Urbanization, although contributing to a smaller fraction of the loss, has also been a consistent driver over the years.