Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Congo Forest of Central Africa is the second largest intact block of tropical rainforest left in the world. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holds the largest portion of this forest, and it is among the most biodiverse areas anywhere. Its forest covers between 112 and 154 million hectares, and hosts more than 10,000 species of plants, 409 species of mammals, 1117 bird species, and 400 species of fish. Lowland humid tropical forests are dominant with a total surface area estimated at 83.7 million hectares, but plantations are also well established and complement the natural forests.

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Last updated: September 2013