The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is leading a transformative initiative to protect the Congo Basin, the largest intact tropical forest on Earth, spanning 3.7 million square kilometers across six countries. This forest serves as a vital carbon sink, sequestering 1.5 billion tonnes of COâ‚‚ annually. However, it faces threats from deforestation, climate change, and conflict, particularly in the east, where armed groups exploit natural resources.
The DRC government is addressing these challenges through the Virunga Alliance, a sustainable development model integrating clean energy and agriculture to boost local economies while preserving the environment. This initiative has already created over 21,000 jobs, including for former militia members, and has the potential to generate 100,000 jobs and $1 billion annually.
In 2025, the DRC introduced legislation to protect 540,000 square kilometers of the Congo Basin, establishing the world’s largest protected tropical forest reserve. This area, which includes 108,000 square kilometers of primary forest, will focus on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and job creation, benefiting 11 million people. International partners, including the European Union and the World Economic Forum, are supporting the initiative, which aims to foster long-term peace, restore biodiversity, and combat climate change.
Photo: (c) pixels.com/Quang Nguyen Vinh
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/congo-kivu-kinshasa-green-corridor
