Rising Incidents in the Congo's North-Kivu Highlight Ongoing Environmental Struggle

Rising Incidents in the Congo's North-Kivu Highlight Ongoing Environmental Struggle

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has witnessed a significant environmental challenge as recent data indicates a single fire incident in the North-Kivu region. This incident is a part of a broader trend of environmental degradation in the country, which has seen a net loss of over 6 million hectares of tree cover, equating to a 3.55% decrease in its forested area.

Over the years, the DRC has experienced substantial tree cover loss primarily due to shifting agriculture, which accounts for the vast majority of this decline. Urbanization, although less significant in comparison, also contributes to the loss, alongside forestry activities and wildfires. The impact of these drivers has been profound, with millions of hectares of forest lost and significant emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere.