Republic of Congo Grapples with Tree Cover Loss and New Fire Incident in Niari

Republic of Congo Grapples with Tree Cover Loss and New Fire Incident in Niari

The Republic of Congo has faced a significant challenge with tree cover loss over the past two decades, with a recent incident adding to the concern. On September 21, 2024, a fire alert was registered in the Niari region, marking yet another environmental setback for the country. The Republic of Congo, which boasts an area of over 34 million hectares, has a substantial tree cover extent of nearly 26.40 million hectares. However, the country has experienced a net loss in tree cover, which has been primarily driven by shifting agriculture.

Analysis of historical data reveals that shifting agriculture has consistently been the predominant driver of tree cover loss, contributing to the vast majority of the carbon emissions associated with this deforestation. Urbanization, while less significant in terms of area, has also been a consistent contributor to tree cover loss. The absence of wildfires as a driver in the data is notable, although the latest fire incident suggests that this may be an emerging threat.