The sustainable valuation of the Congo Basin forests: A real possibility?

Spanning some 268 million hectares across Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea, the forests of the Congo Basin make up the second-largest rainforest expanse in the world after the Amazon. In addition to serving as a crucial carbon sink, the Congo Basin is also one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet. It is home to a staggering variety of plants and trees, including many species of precious woods found nowhere else on Earth. The region also abounds with all manner of birds, reptiles, mammals, and invertebrates. Its wetlands—such as the peatlands of the Cuvette Centrale (“Central Basin”)—are not only major carbon reservoirs but also vital habitats for these often-threatened species.