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\u2013 Forests, an important reserve of biodiversity\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
![\"Epulu_River_Ituri\"](\"https:\/\/rdc.yearbook-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Epulu_River_Ituri-e1719522797417-r3clzv7ouz1lwgrs1fynguqs72lcoxphqhutvl77rq.jpg\" "\\"Epulu_River_Ituri\\"")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\tThe Congo Basin forests represent the second largest tropical forest in the world after the Amazon Basin. Its dense, humid forests cover approximately 200 million hectares, more than half of which are located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t The DRC's terrain is highly diverse, with a broad basin in the center and west, bordered by high plateaus to the east and south. The east of the country is dominated by a volcanic chain interspersed with lakes. The vegetation defines three major natural regions: dense rainforest in the central basin and west; dry forests and savannahs in the southern part and on the northern fringe; and mountain ecosystems along the eastern border. The forest, which covers 135 million hectares of the national territory, makes the DRC one of the largest forested countries in the world, with more than half of the Congo Basin forest.<\/p>\n 415 mammal species, 11,000 plant species, 1,117 bird species, and nearly 1,000 fish species have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) alone. Forest elephants, gorillas, bonobos, and okapis are among the most emblematic species of this extraordinary biodiversity. The DRC has five natural sites recognized as World Heritage Sites, more than all other African countries combined. The preservation of biodiversity in the DRC is primarily ensured by the system of protected areas. It is therefore important to manage them effectively so that they continue to play their role in preserving ecosystems and biodiversity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t The DRC provides humanity with an immense carbon dioxide sequestration service. However, the main drivers of deforestation in the DRC are slash-and-burn agriculture, uncontrolled bushfires, charcoal production for local and regional markets, livestock farming, and, finally, illegal logging. The considerable natural resources available in the DRC make their conservation and sustainable management a major challenge not only for humanity, but above all for the Congolese people. Indeed, they contribute critically to their living conditions, particularly for the poorest among them, as well as to the country's economic development.<\/p>\n The DRC's forests include closed tropical forests, open forests, and wooded savannahs. The DRC plans to review all logging concessions and examine conservation concessions to capture carbon credits. There is also talk of expanding fully protected areas to better preserve biodiversity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rdc.yearbook-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Capture-decran-2024-02-19-145626-215x300.png\")
<\/p>\n
<\/b>Protected areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo consist of nine national parks and 63 hunting grounds and reserves, managed by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN). They cover 10,471 TP3T of the territory.
The 9 National Parks are:
Garamba National Park
Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Kundelungu National Park
Maiko National Park
Mangrove Marine Park
Lomami National Park
Salonga National Park
Upemba National Park
Virunga National Park<\/div>\n