The essential role of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the preservation of the environment and the fight against climate change was highlighted during the summit of the treaty on Amazonian cooperation. President Félix Tshisekedi presented the advantages of the second largest forest in the country, emphasizing its importance as the lungs of the planet and a solution country in the face of climate challenges.
With its 155 million hectares of forests, covering nearly 67% of the national territory, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to a rich and endemic fauna and flora. These forests play a fundamental role in regulating the global climate system, just like the Amazon rainforest. Indeed, the DRC represents nearly 10% of the world’s tropical forests, about 38% of African forests and nearly 60% of the forests of the Congo Basin. In addition, the forest massif of the DRC sequesters about 24.5 gigatonnes of greenhouse gases per day, three quarters of which are concentrated on 43% of the country’s surface area.
Apart from forests, the DRC also has vast expanses of peatlands, covering approximately 101,500 km2. These peatlands have the capacity to absorb nearly 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year, or about 4% of global emissions. They constitute a natural store of more than 30 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of more than two years of global greenhouse gas emissions.
President Tshisekedi underlined the importance of international cooperation in the preservation of forests and the fight against climate change. He referred to the Joint Declaration on Cooperation around Rainforest and Climate Action (BIC), signed between the DRC, Brazil and Indonesia in November 2022. This declaration aims to establish a trilateral alliance for the cooperation on tropical forests and climate action, in order to share experiences, knowledge and concrete actions regarding the preservation of forests and biodiversity.
The DRC plays a key role in the preservation of forest massifs and the fight against climate change. With its forests and peat bogs, it contributes to the regulation of the global climate system and is a key player in the search for sustainable solutions. International cooperation, such as that established with Brazil and Indonesia, is crucial to strengthen these efforts and ensure a greener and more sustainable future for our planet. By working together, we can preserve and protect our natural resources for future generations