- Protect and manage biologically outstanding species and forest and freshwater ecosystems in the Congo Basin in at least 20% of each priority area for conservation.
- Assist local people in the Congo Basin manage their natural resources sustainably and share benefits equitably across 1 million hectares of priority areas.
- Ensure that 50% of forests and waters impacted by extractive industries and infrastructure development are managed through independent certification or internationally recognized best practices.
- Maintain forest cover at the 2005 baseline in 20% of priority areas through national and local incentives provided by carbon markets.
WWF's Vision for the Congo Basin
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Forests at risk
The Congo Basin, covering some 180 million hectares, forms the world’s second largest remaining tropical forest after the Amazon.
These forests are not only an important habitat for elephants and gorillas, but also to indigenous groups that have lived here for thousands of years.But logging and mining, along with pressures caused by population growth and political instability, are putting the forests, wildlife, local people and economies at risk.
If current natural resource exploitation continues, as much as 70% of remaining forest in the Congo Basin can be lost by 2040. CO2 emissions from such massive deforestation will also have a major impact on climate at both regional and global levels.
WWF on the ground in the Congo Basin forests
A plan of action
WWF and its partners are working throughout the Congo Basin region to:
- create a network of protected areas to conserve biodiversity
- encourage logging companies to promote good forest management practices
- promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation
- support sustainable business practices and financial investments in development and infrastructure projects
- improve the livelihoods of indigenous and local peoples
- reduce wildlife poaching and the bushmeat trade
Species on the brink
The Congo Basin is home to some of Africa's most spectacular and endangered wildlife. Here, one finds forest elephants, bongos, okapis and great apes, including chimpanzees, bonobos, and lowland and mountain gorillas.
Only about 700 mountain gorillas survive in the wild, split between two locations: the Virunga range of volcanic mountains on the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, and in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
Despite its protected status, habitat loss, hunting, bushmeat trade and armed conflict are major threats facing gorillas.
WWF, together with the African Wildlife Foundation and Fauna & Flora International, are part of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, a partnership that works to ensure the conservation of mountain gorillas and their forest habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.
Only about 700 mountain gorillas survive in the wild, split between two locations: the Virunga range of volcanic mountains on the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, and in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
Despite its protected status, habitat loss, hunting, bushmeat trade and armed conflict are major threats facing gorillas.
WWF, together with the African Wildlife Foundation and Fauna & Flora International, are part of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, a partnership that works to ensure the conservation of mountain gorillas and their forest habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.
