An initiative powered by
Alwaleed Philanthropies.
0
%
26 Sept 2024

DRC Battles Deforestation: Shifting Agriculture Main Culprit in Tree Cover Decline
DRC Battles Deforestation: Shifting Agriculture Main Culprit in Tree Cover Decline

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faces a significant challenge with deforestation, primarily driven by shifting agriculture practices. Over the past two decades, the DRC has experienced a net loss of approximately 6 million hectares of tree cover, which equates to a 3.55% decrease in its overall tree cover. This loss has had a profound impact on the country's rich biodiversity and contributes to the global climate crisis.

Shifting agriculture remains the leading cause of deforestation, accounting for the vast majority of tree cover loss. Other factors such as urbanization, forestry, and wildfires also contribute to the decline, but to a lesser extent. The latest incident data from Haut-Lomami highlights the ongoing struggle, with fire alerts indicating that the battle against deforestation is far from over.

Explore country profile

The DRC's vast forested area, which once spanned over 199 million hectares, is now under threat. While there has been some tree cover gain, the pace is not sufficient to offset the losses. The country's net change in tree cover shows a disturbing trend, with a loss that overshadows the gains and disturbances combined.

The impact of these losses extends beyond environmental degradation. It affects the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on the forest for survival and threatens the unique wildlife that calls these forests home. The DRC's deforestation crisis is a call to action for conservation efforts and sustainable management practices to preserve one of the world's largest tropical rainforests.

View all history
A global action, for a global challenge.
Our mission to equip you with the information you need to rally local communities for environmental change. Register your information to receive updates for your area.
Get Customized Deforestation Report.