Congo Basin deforestation nears Amazon levels

The Congo Basin's deforestation rates have nearly reached those of the Amazon for the first time in a decade, according to a new study. This alarming development is driven by expanding farming, timber, and mining activities in the region, which is home to the world's second-largest tropical rainforest. The Forest Declaration Assessment group reported that the destruction of the Congo Basin's forests releases significant carbon stores into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change and contributing to drought and forest fires in the tropics.

DR Congo, where most of the forest is located, has experienced decades of conflict and poor oversight, which have fueled uncontrolled logging and increased the rate of tree loss in central Africa. In contrast, deforestation in Latin America and the Caribbean has significantly declined, leaving the two regions almost on par.

Brief written by urgent.news from Semafor's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.