Nearly half of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is covered in rich, primary forest, making the rainforest here the largest in all of Africa. But immense human suffering caused by violent political instability places both human and ecological communities in jeopardy. DRC has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to protected areas, one that is undermined by cycles of violence.
DRC is one of the 17 megadiverse nations. Gorilla, bonobo, chimpanzee, and big cats lurk beneath the dense rainforest canopy. Decades of political instability have resulted in the destabilization of human communities that, when desperate, turn to the forest for sustenance. As a result, the hunting of bushmeat continues to threaten DRC’s wildlife, just as illegal mining and deforestation risk denuding the landscapes of its vast and ancient forests.
Ecologically intact & protected landscapes comprise 50% or more of this country.
Intact landscapes lacking protected status comprise 50% or more of this country.
Between 20-40% of landscapes are still ecologically intact.
Less than 20% of the natural ecology of this area is intact.
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