FOREST DECLARATION ASSESSMENT

The Congo Basin, the world's second-largest tropical forest and a critical carbon sink, experienced an increase in deforestation in 2021, reaching 636,000 hectares. While historically low, current trends show that only Gabon and the Republic of the Congo are aligned with the 2030 goal of zero deforestation. Primary drivers include small-scale subsistence agriculture combined with road construction, though industrial mining and logging pose severe risks to intact forest landscapes. Despite the existence of legal frameworks and international funding commitments—such as $1.5 billion from COP26 donors—implementation is hindered by poor governance, land tenure insecurity for indigenous peoples, and a lack of intersectoral policy alignment. The report emphasizes the need for stronger community land rights and more transparent, quantifiable financial mechanisms to protect this vital ecological region.

• The Congo Basin is a critical global carbon sink, absorbing 0.61 GtCO2e net per year between 2001 and 2019, which is nearly six times the net absorption of the Amazon basin despite covering only 60% of its area.
• Deforestation in the Congo Basin increased by nearly 30,000 hectares (4.9%) in 2021 compared to the 2018-2020 reference period, totaling 636,000 hectares.
• To meet the 2030 global goal of ending deforestation, countries in the region must reduce forest cover loss by 10% annually between 2020 and 2030; currently, only Gabon and the Republic of the Congo are aligned with this trajectory.
• Forest integrity has declined across all six Congo Basin countries, with the most significant reductions observed in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea.
• The primary driver of deforestation and degradation in the region is the 'rural complex,' defined as a combination of small-scale subsistence agriculture, road construction, and human settlements.
• Industrial mining, commercial agriculture, and industrial logging are the most severe risks to intact central forests, as they enable access to previously remote areas for further human settlement and activity.
• Land tenure insecurity for local communities is a fundamental driver of forest loss; only 1.5% of land in Central Africa is legally recognized as belonging to indigenous peoples and local communities.
• While Congo Basin countries have established legal frameworks for forest protection, implementation is hindered by a lack of application texts and contradictions between different sectoral laws (e.g., mining vs. forestry).
• International funding is insufficient compared to national needs; for example, the combined land sector needs for Cameroon and the DRC are estimated at $29.8 billion for 2020-2030.
• The REDD+ process has faced challenges in the region, including high resource requirements for preparation and a lack of financial rewards for the preservation of existing forests that have historically low deforestation rates.
• Private sector 'zero-deforestation' commitments are increasing but often lack transparency and consistency, sometimes functioning as 'zero net deforestation' (offsetting loss with new planting) rather than absolute prevention.
• Independent monitoring by civil society, using low-cost remote sensing and tools like ForestLink, has proven effective in increasing transparency and holding governments and companies accountable.

APA

Forest Declaration Assessment (2022). FOREST DECLARATION ASSESSMENT. https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022RegionalAssessment_FR.pdf

Chicago

Forest Declaration Assessment. FOREST DECLARATION ASSESSMENT. 2022. https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022RegionalAssessment_FR.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Forest Declaration Assessment |title=FOREST DECLARATION ASSESSMENT |date=November 2022 |url=https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022RegionalAssessment_FR.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{forestdeclarationassessment2022forest, author = {{Forest Declaration Assessment}}, title = {{FOREST DECLARATION ASSESSMENT}}, institution = {Forest Declaration Assessment}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022RegionalAssessment_FR.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }