Securing crucial biodiversity, carbon and water stores in the Congo Basin Peatlands
Project description
Peatlands are one of the least understood and monitored ecosystems globally. The recently mapped peatlands of Cuvette Centrale in the Republic of Congo (ROC) and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are estimated to be the largest continuous tropical peat complex in the world at 145,000 km2. It is estimated to store approximately 30 gigatons of carbon, which is equivalent to two years of global greenhouse gas emissions. There is presently very limited in-situ monitoring carried out in the Cuvette Centrale peatlands. Peatland hydrology is also not fully understood, and the consequent lack of data is hampering effective peatland management. The project focuses on the Lac Télé/Lac Tumba, whose landscape covers 126,440 km2 of the larger Cuvette Central peatland. The objectives of the project are (1) to maintain biodiversity and key ecosystem functions (related to carbon stores and water resources) in the focus area by evidence-based decision making and good governance, and (2) to ensure that communities within the landscape benefit from accompanying strengthened livelihoods. It is expected that project results are integrated in planning and policy processes of the ROC and DRC at local, district and national level to enable a biodiversity- and climate- friendly development pathway for the Central Congo Basin Peatlands. It is also expected that local, district and national decision-makers and local communities take up the knowledge provided through piloted livelihood options, best practice guidelines, monitoring data and maps to implement sustainable management of the peatland landscape. GRID-Geneva’s expertise with MapX (mapx.org) and the World Environment Situation Room (wesr.unep.org) will be a key asset in the establishment of a peatland monitoring system using a combination of national and global online platforms and by developing stakeholder capacity through peer-to-peer learning, collection of tools, data and information.
