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The Congo River basin is the world's second largest river basin, second only to the Amazon, made up of an area of nearly 3.4 million square kilometers (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2024). Due to its size, the Congo River basin has a rich diversity of plant and animal species and its extensive rainforests contribute heavily to it being one of the world's largest carbon sinks (Harrison et al., 2018). To put it simply, the environmental significance of the Congo basin cannot be overstated.

Photo Source: Conde Nast, "The Odd Thing About the World's Deepest River", Sept. 28, 2015.

https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2015-09-28/odd-thing-about-the-worlds-deepest-river-congo-africa

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The Congo River Basin is contained within multiple countries: The Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Zambia, Angola, Tanzania, and Cameroon (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2024). The primary channel of the river is 2718 miles (4374 km) and it is notably divided into upper, middle, and lower sections. The headwaters consist of "three main branches: the Luapula River, which drains from Lake Bangweulu to Lake Mweru in the Bangweulu-Mweru ecoregion of northeastern Zambia, and the Luﬁra and Lualaba rivers in the Upper Lualaba ecoregion of southeastern DRC" (Harrison et al., 2018). These headwaters travel through a dense system of tributaries, lakes, and wetlands before meeting at the Malebo Pool in the middle section, a shallow expanse that is 28 km across. Outflow from the Malebo Pool leads to the short, lower section of the Congo (498 km) before ending in a single narrow channel at the Atlantic Ocean, between "Banana Point in the DRC and Sharks Point in Angola" (Harrison et al., 2018). The Congo River is the world's deepest river, reaching depths of up to 750' in some areas (Jennings, 2015).

Photo by: Britannica.com, "Congo basin". Nov. 3, 2024.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Congo-Basin

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Containing a population of over 120 million people, the Congo River provides provisioning, supporting, cultural, and regulatory services. These services include fresh drinking water, food, fishing, air quality regulation, trade routes, hydropower, and more (Harrison et al., 2018; Tourian et al., 2023).

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Known as the 'lungs of Africa', the tropical forest of the Congo River basin has a surface area of more than 2 million square kilometers. These forests are home to over 400 mammal species and 1,000 bird species, and contain over 10,000 vascular plant species (Harrison et al., 2018). Of the plant species found in the Congo, 30% are unique to the basin. "The Congo Basin provides 70% of Africa's total plant cover, making it a vital carbon sink" (International Fund for Animal Welfare, 2024).

Photo Source: Mongabay.com, "Holding agriculture and logging at bay in the Congo peatlands", Dec. 9, 2021.

https://news.mongabay.com/2021/12/holding-agriculture-and-logging-at-bay-in-the-congo-peatlands/

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The Congo River basin is home to thousands of animal species, including some of the world's most endangered. These include okapis, African forest elephants, gorillas (both eastern and western), chimpanzees, bonobos, pangolins, African grey parrots, goliath frogs, and slender-snouted crocodiles, all of which are facing population declines (International Fund for Animal Welfare, 2024). Protecting and preserving their habitats within the Congo is increasingly important to ensure their survival.

Photo Source: ifaw.com

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The Congo River basin has over 100 million inhabitants which represent more than 150 indigenous groups and 250 distinct ethnic groups. Small villages within the area contain populations of a few dozen, whereas urban areas, such as Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, hold populations of up to 17 million. No matter the size, these communities depend on local forest resources for water, shelter, food, and medicine (A Congo Journey - Greenpeace Fund, n.d.).

Photo Source: Greenpeacefund.com, "A Congo Journey", Nov. 2017.

https://greenpeacefund.org/field-notes/a-congo-journey/

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Slash-and-burn agriculture is used to clear land for small-scale farming

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As populations increase globally and the need for resources, such as water and food, increases as well, more land is being utilized in areas like the Congo River basin for agriculture. The demand for palm and rubber plantations in particular, mixed with global demand for timber, has led to areas of forest being cleared in the Congo at an increasing rate (The National Whistleblower Center, 2021).

Photo Source: UNEP.org, "In the heart of Africa, a bold experiment in farming and forest conservation unfolds", Oct. 7, 2024".

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/heart-africa-bold-experiment-farming-and-forest-conservation-unfolds

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Logging in the Congo has taken place at an industrial level for decades. Vast forests mean far more timber and rates of logging have doubled over the last decade, resulting in a loss of over 1 million hectares, or 2.47 million miles, of rainforest in the DRC alone (Project & Project, 2022). Timber from the Congo is shipped globally and as demand increases, so does logging.

Photo Source: Nytimes.com, "Raft by Raft, a Rainforest Loses Its Trees", Jun. 14, 2022.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/06/14/climate/congo-rainforest-logging.html

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The Congo River basin is rich in minerals, such as coltan (used to make cell phones), gold, copper, cobalt, uranium, and diamonds. Nearly a fourth of the population of the Congo is dependent on mining as a source of income, as the areas around the Congo River are some of the poorest in the world. People will work for $2-4/day, risking malnutrition, sexual violence, physical trauma, and more to work within mining (Cool Earth, 2022),

Photo Source: WWF.panda.org, "Mining and Biodiversity Conservation in the Congo Basin", Nov. 7, 2017.

https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?315890/WWF%2Dreleases%2Da%2Dstudy%2Don%2DMining%2Dand%2DBiodiversity%2DConservation%2Din%2Dthe%2DCongo%2DBasin

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There is a stretch in the Congo River that contains the fastest-moving whitewater known worldwide, located by Inga Falls. Previously, two dams were built, Inga I and Inga II, with the belief that they could produce 40 gigawatts of energy, almost 50 times more than the entire population of the DRC currently uses. These dams have unfortunately been too expensive to maintain and are only operating around 30% capacity now. Despite the DRC's inability to afford these, there is still talk of plans to build a "Grand Inga Dam", which would cost between $80-160 billion and would reroute water in the area to a single dam (MegaBuilds, 2023). There is pushback for many reasons on this new plan, including the massive impact on local animal habitats, so there is no guarantee these plans will come to fruition.

Video Source: MegaBuilds

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Deforestation is one of the largest challenges the Congo Basin faces, as logging increases and regulation and policy on illegal logging remain limited (Harrison et al., 2018). According to Greenpeace, "Much of the timber leaving Congo is cut without permission and manages to reach the final destination with counterfeit marks or permit" (PBS NewsHour, 2020). This threat to the Congo Basin's rainforests has a significant impact on how much carbon can be absorbed, as logging interferes with both forest size and soil quality. "The Republic of Congo alone absorbs 1.5% of the world's entire annual carbon emissions" (World Bank Group, 2022).

As demand for agriculture and mining increases, illegal logging increases, and since locals depend on the jobs within mining, logging, and agriculture, the same communities dependent on its resources are contributing to its consumption.

Video Source: PBS NewsHour

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Widespread logging threatens the Congo Basin's critical rainforest

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As deforestation in the Congo continues to increase, so does sedimentation. When trees are removed, the soil below is uprooted and loose sediment loads end up in local freshwater systems at increasing rates. This increase in sediment deposition leads to increased turbidity in the river, decreased river depth, and habitat loss for aquatic species. The Ubangi River within the basin ended up with such a loss to depth that shipping ended up impeded for several months, impacting trading and transport greatly (Harrison et al., 2018).

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Ruzizi River pollution stretches 90 km on the border between the DRC and Rwanda

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The Congo River is not exempt from pollution. Runoff from agricultural practices, overflow of sanitation systems and septic tanks, open defecation practices, and dumping of trash contributes significantly to its pollution. Samples collected in 2021 from hospital outlet pipes in Kinshasa City, the largest city in the Congo, showed E Coli. and Enterobacter, both deadly (Aguirre, 2021).

Factories located in the DRC discharge waste directly into rivers and other freshwater systems, including sewage, lead, oil, heavy metals, and more (Harrison et al., 2018). This massive negative impact on water quality leads to major health risks to all local communities and impacts aquatic life negatively as well.

Photo Source: Guardian.ng, "Plastic pollution cuts power in DR Congo", Mar. 22, 2022.

https://guardian.ng/news/world/plastic-pollution-cuts-power-in-dr-congo/

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Political conflict in the Congo River basin goes back centuries with the most known conflicts kicking off in the mid-90s. As conflict incites violence, local communities have found themselves homeless, moving through the Congo. As local residents move, so do armies, contributing to deforestation as their new homes, temporary or permanent, are made. Animals that once found their habitat in any of these areas find themselves in a place of seeking out new homes as well (Butler, 2020).

Another side of political conflict within the basin is because it is held within multiple countries. Different countries have different opinions on how resources should be handled. As a result, policies implemented often end up not being upheld and because many of these countries are poor, money wins out when companies come in and want more timber than they are allowed. Illegal logging is the leading cause of deforestation in the Congo and not enough is being done about it unfortunately

PDF Source: Reliefweb.int, "Democratic Republic of the Congo: Conflict and political violence", Jan 29, 2015".

https://reliefweb.int/map/democratic-republic-congo/democratic-republic-congo-conflict-and-political-violence-map-week

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Pages from Verisk Maplecroft _ Map of the week

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Thousands of animal species call the Congo home, including species that don't exist outside of it, but their habitats are constantly put at risk. As trees are taken down, habitats are lost. As sedimentation and pollution increase, habitats are lost. As agriculture and mining increase, habitats are lost. As climate change continues to head in the wrong direction, habitats are lost. Apes are perhaps the most impacted by the constant changes taking place in the rainforest, as the trees they call home are removed at increasing rates.

Photo Source: Worldwidelife.org, "Congo Basin".

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African forest elephants are just one of many animals targeted by poachers in the Congo. Illegal trade increases poaching and drives animals to become endangered, or eventually extinct. On top of illegal poaching, bushmeat trade has become a leading cause of loss of wildlife in the Congo Basin due to increasing demand and the access of forest areas brought about by logging. In the DRC alone, "over a million tons of bushmeat are consumed each year" (Congo Rain Forest and Basin | Places | WWF, n.d.).

Photo Source: Rainforesttrust.org, "Poachers kill thousands of animals every year".

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The threats to biodiversity loss are wound up within the multiple challenges the Congo River basin faces. Fully functioning ecosystems cannot exist without biodiversity and as habitat loss, illegal poaching, trade, demand for resources, water pollution, climate change, and more impact the home of the plants and animals of the Congo, the ecosystem that exists faces the loss of needed function. A loss of species can have a profound impact that goes far beyond what we can see and we can't know the extent of consequences until it is perhaps too late to get it back.

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Carbon removals and emissions due to change in land use (including deforestation), 1990-2021

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There is a vicious cycle emerging in the Congo Basin related to climate change. While the basin remains a carbon sink today, its status is already under threat. Without stricter regulation of practices like logging, this vital resource could transition from being an ally in combating climate change to a contributor to the crisis. The resulting acceleration of climate change would further degrade the basin, compounding the damage in a self-reinforcing loop. The stress of climate change already impacts plant and animal species in ways seen and unseen as temperatures increase, water levels change, and weather significantly alters--we do not need to test the resiliency of local species any further (Harrison et al., 2018).

Photo Source: CGDev.org, "How Much Should the World Pay for the Congo Forest’s Carbon Removal?", Nov. 2, 2022.

https://www.cgdev.org/publication/how-much-should-world-pay-congo-forests-carbon-removal

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The impact of agriculture, mining, poaching, logging, and climate change all lead back to significantly negative impacts on local species and communities, as well as the environment.

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According to Harrison et al. (2018), "Only 3% of the Congo Basin's 5,255 subcatchments are included within existing protected areas". As habitat and biodiversity loss are risking increases, adding to the protected areas in the Congo could benefit areas with fresh water and plant and animal species within them. The addition of protected areas would call for increased management, as illegal practices continue to be on the rise without enough regulation. Ultimately, these areas, if planned properly, could serve to protect endangered species and provided the ability for regrowth in areas where habitats have been lost.

Photo Source: WWF.panda.org, "Sustainable Protected Areas".

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Political accountability and collaboration hinge on the policies and regulations established to curb illegal activities in the Congo River basin. Protecting the Congo River and its surrounding regions is critical. While securing joint commitment from multiple governments poses significant challenges—particularly when financial interests are at stake—advocating for collaborative agreements remains essential in order to protect wildlife and their habitats.

Effective policy can foster and regulate sustainable practices, reducing our impact on the degradation of the Congo's invaluable resources. Policy can also be the difference between communities being cared for or being displaced and destroyed (Congo Rain Forest and Basin | Places | WWF, n.d.).

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While plans to create a new source of hydroelectric power likely sound appealing to political parties and inhabitants wanting access to a larger power supply, the inability to appropriately care for the existing dams makes one wonder how a new, far more expensive dam, will be cared for. Efforts need to be put in place to maintain Inga I and II before there is ever talk of a new dam being put in that would significantly impact local communities and habitats. The creation of these initial dams already disturbed previous communities and their lack of maintenance frankly seems cruel to those who once lived where they now stand. Rehabilitation of the dams would provide local jobs and also create an opportunity to increase local education surrounding environmental needs and services as they relate to human needs.

Photo Source: African.business, "Scepticism over Grand Inga Dam revival", Jul. 13, 2023.

https://african.business/2023/07/energy-resources/scepticism-over-grand-inga-dam-revival

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We cannot care about the things we do not know about or do not understand. Educating local communities is the equivalent of empowering local communities. It is enough to tell someone to plant a tree, you need to explain why, how, and what/what kind. If locals know there is a problem but aren't taught how to combat the problem, then who is there to fix or reverse it?

Creating educational tools like the video above, or hosting local workshops, empowers the communities most impacted by the practices that negatively impact them and gives them the tools to make positive changes in their lives. The beauty of education is that it doesn't stop at one person either, it continues through generations, but it must first start somewhere.

Video Source: InternationalRivers

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Congo River Animation Series - Video 1: The Congo River Basin

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When it comes to climate and our impact on our environment, we often don't think about what we can't see. When we order a cell phone, do we consider where the pieces of it come from or how much people are being paid to mine coltan for it? When we buy wood at Home Depot, do we consider it may be stock that comes from the Congo or another important ecosystem that we all sincerely need?

We don't.

The Congo River is home to animals, plants, and people, and we go through our lives not realizing how much we depend on it and its resources, despite being thousands of miles away. We need to strive to maintain its forests, water quality, animals, and resources, not just for the communities living in it, but for ourselves as well. Just as we impact the Congo River basin by diminishing its resources from afar, we can also advocate for the protection of its resources and people from afar.

It is a beauty worth fighting for.

Photo Source: Wildaid.org, "The Congo Basin is under threat -- here's why we need to act now", Mar. 29, 2023.

https://wildaid.org/the-congo-basin-is-under-threat-heres-why-we-need-to-act-now/

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024, November 3). Congo basin | Rainforest, Wildlife & Rivers. Encyclopedia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Congo-Basin

Harrison, I. J., Brummett, R., & Stiassny, M. L. J. (2018). Congo River Basin. In The Wetland Book (pp. 1199–1216). Springer Netherlands.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6173-5_92-1

Jennings, K. (2015, September 28). The odd thing about the world’s deepest river. Condé Nast Traveler.

https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2015-09-28/odd-thing-about-the-worlds-deepest-river-congo-africa

Tourian, M. J., Papa, F., Elmi, O., Sneeuw, N., Kitambo, B., Tshimanga, R. M., Paris, A., & Calmant, S. (2023). Current availability and distribution of Congo Basin’s freshwater resources. Communications Earth & Environment, 4(1).

https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00836-z

PBS NewsHour. (2020, July 24). Widespread logging threatens the Congo Basin’s critical rainforest [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efI8QWG-psQ

International Fund for Animal Welfare. (2024, May 9). Endangered animals in the Congo rainforest. IFAW.

https://www.ifaw.org/journal/endangered-animals-congo

International Fund for Animal Welfare. (2024, May 9). Endangered animals in the Congo rainforest. IFAW.

https://www.ifaw.org/journal/endangered-animals-congo

World Bank Group. (2022, October 27). Journey into the Congo Basin – The Lungs of Africa and Beating Heart of the World. World Bank.

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2022/10/24/journey-into-the-congo-basin-the-lungs-of-africa-and-beating-heart-of-the-world

A Congo Journey - Greenpeace Fund. (n.d.). Greenpeace Fund. https://greenpeacefund.org/field-notes/a-congo-journey/

Cool Earth. (2022, April 22). Mining in the Congo Rainforest - Cool Earth.

https://www.coolearth.org/news/mining-drc/

The National Whistleblower Center. (2021, May 12). Deforestation in the Congo Basin Rainforest - NWC. National Whistleblower Center. https://www.whistleblowers.org/deforestation-in-the-congo-basin-rainforest/

Project, B., & Project, B. (2022, October 19). The human toll of logging in the Congo Basin. BORGEN. https://www.borgenmagazine.com/logging-in-the-congo-basin/

MegaBuilds. (2023, October 29). Africa’s $80BN mega Dam [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46IaQxm1eaI

Butler, R. A. (2020, February 9). Congo deforestation. WorldRainforests.com. https://worldrainforests.com/congo/deforestation.html

Aguirre, M. (2021, May 15). The contaminated Congo River. ArcGIS StoryMaps. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b026eeaf572e4fc7978eb60a98f348a9

Congo Rain Forest and Basin | Places | WWF. (n.d.). World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/congo-basin