Protecting biodiversity in the Congo basinThe project protects 185,000 hectares of forest in the middle of the Congo Basin from illegal logging and thus an important carbon sink. Local communities and the enormous diversity of animal and plant species benefit from the protection of their habitat in the world's second largest rainforest. Without the project's protection status, illegal deforestation would take place here. The trade in raw materials from the forest areas often earns only big corporates, natural resources are destroyed and local people live in poverty. The project creates alternative income opportunities for them and prevents them from joining the trade in tropical timber.
In Isangi, the project creates new training opportunities and jobs for monitoring the forest areas. There are health programmes and farmers are learning more efficient, environmentally friendly cultivation methods. Thanks to a new bridge and road, they now also have better access to markets outside the project area.
How does forest protection help fight global warming?Forests are not only among the planet's most important carbon reservoirs. They also are home to an enormous diversity of species and are the livelihood for all people. However, global forest areas have declined sharply in recent decades due to increasing settlement, agricultural use, illegal logging and mining.
Forest protection projects ensure that forests are preserved in the long term and that the protection of forests is given a higher value than their deforestation. Together with the local population, project participants protect the area from negative influences. To allow for this the projects create alternative sources of income and educational opportunities. Depending on the project region, forests store varying amounts of carbon per hectare. Particularly high amounts of carbon are stored in the vegetation and soil of tropical swamp forests, primary rainforests, or mangroves. Forest protection projects in the ClimatePartner portfolio are registered with international standards.
