Congo Basin - Forest Ecosystem Accounts and Policy Recommendations : A Regional Synthesis of Ecosystem Extent, Condition, Services, and Asset Accounts 2000-2020 : Policy Note

Overview & Synopsis

The Congo Basin, home to the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest, holds immense value not just for the six countries (Central African Republic, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo) it spans, but for the planet. These forests are not only crucial to global sustainability but also to domestic economic resilience. They provide distinct domestic services which have not yet been captured in national economic values. Forest services represent a significant share of GDP, ranging from 3 percent in Equatorial Guinea to 7.4 percent in the Republic of Congo, supporting rural livelihoods and economic diversification across the region. According to the country reports, the value of forest ecosystem services of the basin has nearly doubled, from US 590 billion dollars in 2000 to US 1.15 trillion dollars in 2020, while their total forest asset value surged from US 11.4 trillion dollars to US 23.2 trillion dollars. However, without urgent attention, these forest values can decline rapidly. The region has seen an 8.6-million-hectare loss in forest cover over 20 years, largely due to agricultural expansion and infrastructure pressures. These forest accounts have been developed for the first time for the Congo Basin.