SMOKE ON WATER

Congo Basin: extent of peatlands and threats Congo Basin: extent of peatlands and threats

NOUABALÉ-NDOKI NATIONAL PARK NOUABALÉ-NDO I NATIONAL PARK

Lisala Lisala

CAMEROON CAMEROON

Epena Epena LAC TÉLÉ COMMUNITY R SERVE LAC TÉLÉ COMMUNITY RESERVE

Mokeko Mokeko

Impfondo Impfondo

Ouesso Ouesso

Bongandanga Bongandanga

Makanza Makanza

Bomongo Bomongo

Basankusu Basankusu

LOMAKO-YOKOKALA NATURE RESERVE LOMAKO-YOKOKALA NATURE RESERVE

Pikounda Pikounda

Befale Befale

Bolomba Bolomba

NTOKOU-PIKOUNDA NATIONAL PARK NTOKOU-PIKOUNDA NATIONAL PARK

Makoua Makoua

Mbandaka Mbandaka

Ntokou Ntokou

Boende Boende

Ingende Ingende

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO DEM CRATI REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Owando Owando

Liranga Liranga

Bikoro Bikoro

CONGO CONGO

Loukolela Loukolela

Oyo

Lukolela Lukolela

Mossaka Mossaka

y

Abala Ollombo Abala Ollombo

Kiri Kiri

Ongongni Ongongni Gambona Gambona

Monkoto Monkoto

TUMBA-LEDIIMA NATURE RESERVE TUMBA-L DIIMA NATURE RESERVE

Inongo Inongo

SALONGA NATIONAL PARK SALONGA NATIONAL PARK

Peat swamp forest Key biodiversity areas Peat swamp forest Key biodiversity areas

Forest concessions Agricultural concessions Forest concessions Agricultural concessions

International recognized sites Nationally designated protected areas International recognised sites Nationally designated protected areas

Mining concessions Oil and Gas concessions Mining concessions Oil and Gas concessions

L ÓPEZ , 2017 50 km L ÓPEZ , 2017 50 km

Sources: Miles L. et al., 2017, Carbon, biodiversity and land-use in the Central Congo Basin Peatlands, UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and University of Leeds. Sources: Miles L. ed al, 2017, Carbon, biodiversity and land-use in the Central Congo Basin Peatlands, UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and University of Le ds.

GRID-Arendal

Figure 7. Peatland areas and threats in the Cuvette Centrale region of the Congo Basin.

The Republic of Congo has recognized the role of peatland carbon stocks in the country’s forest reference emission level, and are looking into REDD+ and other planning and investment mechanisms as a potential tool to promote the conservation of the forested peatlands. It is also considering the expansion of the Lac Télé Community Reserve to protect further areas of forested peatlands. For example, the draft of its National REDD+ Strategy aims to ensure that agro-industrial concessions are not granted near wetlands or forests with high biodiversity value. Keeping this massive store of carbon in the ground is an urgent priority and the only way to make this happen is to ensure that any development is approached in a sustainable manner.

While currently intact, the central Congo Basin peatlands and their carbon stocks are highly vulnerable to land use change (Haensler et al., 2013). Large areas of the Cuvette Centrale are designated as Ramsar sites, covering most of the peatlands, with several other protected area designations. On the other hand, most of the region is also covered by proposed or current concessions for logging, mining and oil and gas development, including the expansion of the road network which could increase access to previously remote locations (see figure 7). Other possible threats include agricultural expansion into untouched areas leading to deforestation, peatland drainage and overall ecosystem degradation. Furthermore, some regional climate projections forecast reduced annual rainfall and stronger dry seasons that could also lead to peatland drying and drainage (Miles et al., 2017).

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