Congo Basin

The Congo Basin is the drainage area of the Congo River system in central Africa. It contains the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest and spans several countries.

Congo River: The major river of central Africa, flowing westward to the Atlantic Ocean through the Congo Basin. Its tributaries collect the basin’s waters into one of the world’s largest river systems.
Congo River discharge: The volume of water flowing through the Congo River past a given point per unit of time. Its relatively steady flow reflects rainfall arriving from both sides of the equator.
Congo Basin forest protection: Policies and actions intended to conserve forests and biodiversity across the Congo Basin. Protected areas and community initiatives address pressures on the basin’s forests.
Great Ape: A primate group that includes orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans. The basin’s forests provide habitat for gorillas and chimpanzees.
Congo Basin climate change: Observed and projected climate changes affecting the Congo Basin’s landscapes and people. Shifts in rainfall and heat may alter forests, water flows, and carbon storage.
Congo Rainforest: The tropical rainforest of central Africa, forming the world’s second-largest contiguous tropical rainforest. It occupies much of the basin and shapes its climate and habitats.
Intertropical Convergence Zone: A shifting tropical zone where trade winds converge, producing rising air and frequent rainfall. Its seasonal passage helps create two rainy seasons across much of the basin.
REDD+: A United Nations framework that supports forest conservation and climate mitigation in developing countries. It has shaped funding and policy debates about forest protection in the basin.
Bonobo: A great ape native to forests south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its restricted range makes the basin central to its survival.
Tropical deforestation: The removal or degradation of forest in tropical regions. Its causes and pace across the basin remain central conservation concerns.

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