Communities living in and around the Congo Basin forests rely on them for food, medicine, fuelwood, and cultural identity—making forest conservation central to both livelihoods and sustainability. Credit: Axel Fassio/CIFOR-ICRAF.
A Global Treasure Under Pressure
A global treasure under pressure, why is the Congo Basin getting so much attention? For good reason. As the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest, it plays an outsized role regulating global climate, safeguarding biodiversity, and sustaining the livelihoods of millions as set out in a new World Bank report on the Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem Accounts report and Policy Recommendations, Forests in the region store over 90.9 billion tons of carbon—ten times the annual global CO₂ emissions from the energy sector—making the Basin one of the planet’s most critical natural carbon sinks. The Congo Basin alone accounts for over 10% of the global climate regulation function of tropical forests. The region also ranks among the highest globally in biodiversity, offering refuge for diverse species and regulating rainfall across Central Africa.
Yet this lifeline is under threat. Forest loss nearly doubling between 2010 and 2020 compared to the previous decade, driven by shifting agriculture, infrastructure, and mounting land pressures. Even as the six countries of the Basin—Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo (RoC), Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon—remain among the most forest-rich nations globally, the trajectory signals an urgent need for action and forward-looking solutions
A Mixed Picture: Progress and Pressures
Amid mounting pressures, the story at the country levels is contrasting. With forest cover exceeding 70%, the RoC, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon have demonstrated a remarkable capacity to preserve their forests. Gabon, in particular, has achieved exceptionally low deforestation—just 0.6%—through proactive conservation policies, making it one of the few countries classified as High Forest, Low Deforestation (HFLD). Others, however, face higher rates of forest loss. DRC lost about 6% of its forest cover between 2000 and 2020, while Cameroon lost around 4% over the same period. These trends underscore the urgent need for country-specific and forward-looking solutions – to sustain the full value of this globally important biome.
Unlocking Nature’s Value: Forest Ecosystem Accounting for a Sustainable Future
The forest ecosystems of the Congo Basin are not only ecological assets —they are economic powerhouses. They provide bushmeat, fuelwood, timber, carbon retention and water regulation, supporting the livelihoods of communities and national economies. The diversity and scale of these ecosystem services highlights the importance of managing forest resources more sustainably. Yet much of this value has been invisible in national accounts, contributing to underinvestment in forest protection.
To bridge this gap, the World Bank has developed, for the first time, Forest Ecosystem accounts for all six of the Congo Basin countries. Collectively, the forests represent a natural asset worth over $23.2 trillion in 2020, delivering ecosystem services valued at $1.15 trillion annually. At the country level, the Republic of Congo derives nearly 7.4% of GDP from forest ecosystem services, while in CAR the share exceeds 15.4%. In Cameroon, the Adjusted Net Savings shifted from negative to positive. These accounts were developed not only at the national level, but also at the provincial level, capturing the diversity of forest conditions and challenges across territories. This level of detail allows policymakers target interventions, balance trade-offs between conservation and development, and ensure that forest values are reflected in planning decisions. These forest capital accounts provide a strong foundation for economic diversification and strengthen countries’ ability to articulate the true contribution of their forests in domestic policy and international climate finance negotiations.
Rather than merely producing backward-looking diagnostics, Natural Capital Accounting can be leveraged as a forward-looking tool to guide resource management, drive economic diversification, attract investment, and unlock sustainable revenue streams
Natural Capital at the Heart of Development
Forest ecosystem accounts are already reshaping dialogue and policy landscape in the Congo Basin. They have informed economic updates, including the World Bank’s recent CEMAC countries and regional economic report, which spotlighted sustainable forest management as a pillar of growth. By embedding the value of forests into national planning and budgeting, governments can strengthen fiscal stability, mobilize green investment, and expand access to new finance—through carbon markets, biodiversity credits, and results-based climate funding.
Aerial view of the Congo Basin rainforest, where rivers and forests form a lifeline for millions of people while storing vast amounts of carbon critical for global climate stability. Credit: guenterguni/iStock by Getty Images.
Elevating the Dialogue: A Call for Global Action
As COP 30 in Belém approaches, Congo Basin countries are, for the first time, equipped with robust data to drive dialogue and negotiations on climate finance, carbon markets, and payments for ecosystem service. This evidence base shifts the global discourse: forest-rich nations can more forcefully advocate fair compensation for their role in maintaining planetary stability. But success will depend on bold national policies, strong capacity for results-based financing, and effective regional partnerships. Institutions and initiatives such as COMIFAC and CEMAC, together with initiatives like CAFI, will be central to turning data into action.
The next phase must move faster to meet the challenge. The Congo Basin should be at the centerpiece of emerging initiatives such as the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, which seeks long-term financing solutions for the world’s tropical forests. But these efforts alone are not enough. Lasting impact will require coordinated and scaled up support from development partners, the private sector, and the broader global community— commensurate with the Congo Basin’s importance to the planet.
A Global Lifeline
The Congo Basin is not just Africa’s forest—it is a global lifeline. Safeguarding its future means rethinking the value of nature and putting forests at the heart of sustainable development. With the right investments and partnerships, the Basin can stabilize the climate, conserve biodiversity, create jobs, and transform conservation into a driver of inclusive growth.
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Publication: Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem Accounts and Policy Recommendations: A Regional Synthesis Report of Ecosystem Extent, Condition, Services, and Asset Accounts 2000-2020 (Download the report)
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