NEW LIFE IN THE CONGO BASIN: A DECADE OF SPECIES DISCOVERIES (2013–2023)

Between 2013 and 2023, scientists described at least 742 new species in the Congo Basin, including 430 plants, 140 invertebrates, 96 fish, 42 reptiles, 22 amphibians, 10 mammals, and 2 birds. The report emphasizes that the region is a critical carbon sink and biodiversity hotspot, but faces severe threats from illegal logging, poaching, mining, and infrastructure development. WWF is implementing conservation strategies including biomonitoring, FSC-certified forestry, and human-wildlife conflict insurance to protect these ecosystems.

• Between 2013 and 2023, at least 742 species were officially described by scientists as new to the Congo Basin region.
• The breakdown of new species discoveries by group includes 430 plants, 140 invertebrates, 96 fish, 42 reptiles, 22 amphibians, 10 mammals, and 2 birds.
• The Congo Basin is the world's second largest tropical forest, covering over 200 million hectares and acting as a vital carbon sink that regulates rainfall as far as the Sahel and Ethiopian highlands.
• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was the source of almost all new mammal discoveries in the region, including the Lesula monkey (Cercopithecus lomamiensis), discovered in 2012 and listed as a Top 10 New Species globally in 2013.
• The region faces severe environmental pressures, with the Democratic Republic of Congo losing 19.7 million hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2023, resulting in 12.3 gigatonnes of COʂ emissions.
• Mining for minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and coltan, often driven by global demand and China's 'Belt and Road Initiative', threatens ecosystems and has led to human rights violations and child slave labour.
• Research indicates that forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in Gabon and the Republic of Congo have significantly higher populations of large mammals, including 2.7 times more mammals over 100 kg (such as gorillas and forest elephants) than non-certified forests.
• The Congo Basin's peatlands in the Cuvette Centrale cover 145,500 sq km and contain 30 billion tonnes of carbon, equivalent to 20 years of U.S. fossil fuel emissions.

APA

Thompson, C. (2024). NEW LIFE IN THE CONGO BASIN: A DECADE OF SPECIES DISCOVERIES (2013–2023). WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/506/8lu5rslizx_English_Final_New_Life_in_the_Congo_Basin_embargoed3Dec.pdf

Chicago

Thompson, Christian. NEW LIFE IN THE CONGO BASIN: A DECADE OF SPECIES DISCOVERIES (2013–2023). WWF International, 2024. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/506/8lu5rslizx_English_Final_New_Life_in_the_Congo_Basin_embargoed3Dec.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Thompson |first1=Christian |title=NEW LIFE IN THE CONGO BASIN: A DECADE OF SPECIES DISCOVERIES (2013–2023) |publisher=WWF International |date=2024 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/506/8lu5rslizx_English_Final_New_Life_in_the_Congo_Basin_embargoed3Dec.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{thompson2024new, author = {Thompson, Christian}, title = {{NEW LIFE IN THE CONGO BASIN: A DECADE OF SPECIES DISCOVERIES (2013–2023)}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2024}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/506/8lu5rslizx_English_Final_New_Life_in_the_Congo_Basin_embargoed3Dec.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }