DR Congo

58.9% —or about 133,610,000 hectares—of DR Congo is forested.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, DR Congo lost an average of 532,400 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual deforestation rate of 0.38%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change decreased by 37.7% to 0.24% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, DR Congo lost 4.9% of its forest cover, or around 6,921,000 hectares. Measuring the total rate of habitat conversion (defined as change in forest area plus change in woodland area minus net plantation expansion) for the 1990-2005 interval, DR Congo lost 3.1% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: DR Congo has some 2100 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 6.6% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 3.5% are threatened. DR Congo is home to at least 11007 species of vascular plants, of which 10.0% are endemic. 5.1% of DR Congo is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

Congo, Dem Rep Environmental profile

SECTIONS:

Forest Cover | Forest types | Breakdown of forest types | Change in Forest Cover | Primary forest | Forest designation | Disturbances affecting forest land | Protected areas | Biodiversity - Wildlife | Biodiversity - Plants | Value of forests | Production, trade and consumption of forest products | Environment | Land use / Resources | Economy | Population / Demographics | Infrastructure | Health | References | Books

Books

[an error occurred while processing this directive] DR Congo : Forest types Tropical (% forest area) 100% Subtropical (% forest area) 0% Temperate (% forest area) 0% Boreal/polar (% forest area) 0% DR Congo: Breakdown of forest types, 2005 Primary forest (ha | %) - - Modified natural (ha | %) - - Semi-natural (ha | %) - - Production plantation (ha | %) - - Production plantation (ha | %) - - DR Congo: Change in Forest Cover TOTAL FOREST COVER Forest 1990 (ha) 140,531,000 Forest 2000 (ha) 135,207,000 Forest 2005 (ha) 133,610,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) (532,400) -0.38% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) (319,400) -0.24% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) (6,921,000) -4.92% Change in rate (%) -37.65% PRIMARY FOREST COVER Primary 1990 (ha) - Primary 2000 (ha) - Primary 2005 (ha) - Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) - - Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) - - Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) - - Change in rate (%) - OTHER WOODED LAND Other 1990 (ha) 83,277,000 Other 2000 (ha) 83,277,000 Other 2005 (ha) 83,277,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) - 0.00% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) - 0.00% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) - 0.00% Change in rate (%) #DIV/0! PLANTATIONS Other 1990 (ha) - Other 2000 (ha) - Other 2005 (ha) - Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) - - Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) - - Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) - - Change in rate (%) - TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations Other 1990 (ha) 223,808,000 Other 2000 (ha) 218,484,000 Other 2005 (ha) 216,887,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) (532,400) -0.24% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) (319,400) -0.15% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) (6,921,000) -3.09% Change in rate (%) -38.55% DR Congo: Primary Primary or "old-growth" vegetation Primary Forest 2005 (ha) - Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) - Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) 0 Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area) 0.00% [an error occurred while processing this directive] DR Congo: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000 Forest Area annually affected by Fire (%) - Insects (ha) - Diseases (ha) - Other (ha) - [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] DR Congo: Biodiversity - Plants Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock - Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock - Number of Native tree species Native tree species 870 Number of tree species in IUCN red list Critically Endangered 0 Endangered 8 Vulnerable 43 Vascular Plant Species, 2004 Total 11007 Number endemic 1100 Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 Species threatened 65 DR Congo: Value of forests Biomass stock in forest, 2005 Above-ground biomass (M t) 37,376 Below-ground biomass (M t) 8,970 Dead wood (M t) 2,432 Total (M t) 48,778 Carbon stock in forest, 2005 Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) 18,688 Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) 4,485 Carbon in dead wood (M t) 1,216 Carbon in litter (M t) 281 Soil carbon (M t) 7,482 Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr) 1990-2000 -122,800 2000-2005 -73,800 Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr) 1990-2000 n.s. 2000-2005 n.s. Wood removal 2005 Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m) 4,199 Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) 78,795 Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) 82,994 Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock) n.s. Plant products 2005 Food (t) - Fodder (t) - Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) - Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) - Raw material for utensils, handicrafts & construction (t) - Ornamental plants (t) - Exudates (t) - Other plant products (t) - Animal products 2005 Living animals (units) - Hides, skins and trophies (units) - Wild honey and bee-wax (t) - Bush meat (t) - Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) - Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) - Other edible animal products (t) - Other non-edible animal products (t) - Value of wood and non-wood forest product removal 2005 Industrial roundwood (US$) - Wood fuel (US$) - Non-wood forest products (US$) - Total value (US$) - Total value ($USD/ha) $- Employment in forestry 2000 Total people employed - DR Congo: Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002 Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 67,285 Imports - Exports 0 Consumption 67,285 Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 3,653 Imports 0 Exports 2 Consumption 3,651 Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 40 Imports 0 Exports 2 Consumption 38 Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 3 Imports 0 Exports 0 Consumption 3 Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production - Imports 0 Exports - Consumption 0 Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 3 Imports 2 Exports 0 Consumption 5 DR Congo: Environment Environment - current issues poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification Natural hazards periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes DR Congo: Land use / Resources Land use (%) arable land: 2.96% permanent crops: 0.52% other: 96.52% (2001) Natural resources cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber DR Congo: Economy Economy - overview: The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast potential wealth - has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The war, which began in August 1998, dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, increased external debt, and resulted in the deaths of perhaps 3.5 million people from war, famine, and disease. Foreign businesses curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment. Conditions improved in late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign troops. The transitional government has reopened relations with international financial institutions and international donors, with President KABILA implementing reforms. Much economic activity lies outside the GDP data. Economic stability improved in 2003-05, although an uncertain legal framework, corruption, and a lack of openness in government policy continues to hamper growth. In 2005, renewed activity in the mining sector, the source of most exports, boosted Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP growth. Business and economic prospects are expected to improve once a new government is installed after elections. GDP - per capita $800 (2005 est.) GDP - real growth rate (%) 6.5% (2005 est.) Agriculture - products coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products GDP - composition by sector (%) agriculture: 55%, industry: 11%, services: 34% (2000 est.) Industries mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, commercial ship repair Economic aid - recipient $2.2 billion (FY03/04) Debt - external $10.6 billion (2003 est.) Population below poverty line (%) NA Labor force - by occupation (%) NA DR Congo: Population / Demographics Population (July 2005) 60,085,804 Population growth rate (%) (2005) 2.98% Population density (people/sq km) (2005) 26.5 Median age (years) total: 15.8 years Total fertility rate (children born/woman) 6.54 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups (%) over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population Largest Cities in Congo Dem Republic Cities and urban areas in Congo Dem Republic with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002. City Country City Population Urban Area Population Kinshasa Congo Dem Republic 6301100 7527500 Lubumbashi Congo Dem Republic 1074600 1074600 Mbuji-Mayi Congo Dem Republic 905800 1054400 Kolwezi Congo Dem Republic 803900 803900 Kananga Congo Dem Republic 539600 539600 Kisangani Congo Dem Republic 510300 818800 Likasi Congo Dem Republic 375100 375100 Boma Congo Dem Republic 352200 352200 Tshikapa Congo Dem Republic 319600 319600 Bukavu Congo Dem Republic 236400 504600 Matadi Congo Dem Republic 224700 224700 Kikwit Congo Dem Republic 222500 222500 Mbandaka Congo Dem Republic 206800 206800 Mwene-Ditu Congo Dem Republic 198800 198800 Uvira Congo Dem Republic 194500 194500 Butembo Congo Dem Republic 148900 148900 Goma Congo Dem Republic 148400 148400 Isiro Congo Dem Republic 135600 135600 Bunia Congo Dem Republic 129000 129000 Gemena Congo Dem Republic 120000 120000 Kindu Congo Dem Republic 119000 119000 Bandundu Congo Dem Republic 116700 116700 Kalemie Congo Dem Republic 108200 108200 Ilebo Congo Dem Republic 104800 104800  Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005  Forest Cover, Forest types, Breakdown of forest types, Change in Forest Cover, Primary forests, Forest designation, Disturbances affecting forest land, Value of forests, Production, trade and consumption of forest products -- The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS's Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005) and the State of the World�s Forests (2005, 2003, 2001)  Protected Areas, Plant and animal biodiversity -- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2004. World Database on Protected Areas.  Biosphere reservers -- United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Man and Biosphere Program. 2004. UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.  RAMSAR sites -- The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands . 2005. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.  World Resources Institute's EarthTrends web site  The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species  Population Data -- United Nations Population Fund  With additional analysis by Rhett Butler of mongabay.com