Earth’s second lung and a continental water pump
The largest expanse of intact tropical forest on Earth, under-researched and chronically under-funded. That gap is where OCS works.
The Congo Basin holds the largest expanse of intact tropical forest on Earth (≈3.7 million km² across six countries; about 60% in the DRC). It absorbs around 1.5 billion tonnes of CO₂ a year, stores tens of billions of tonnes of carbon in its peatlands, regulates rainfall across Africa and supports about 130 million people.
Yet it remains under-researched and chronically under-funded compared with the Amazon and Southeast Asia. That gap is where OCS works.
Protecting wildlife protects the climate
The basin shelters forest elephants, bonobos, chimpanzees, okapis and gorillas, including Grauer’s gorilla, found only in eastern DR Congo and listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN.
Large animals disperse seeds and shape the forest, helping keep its carbon-rich trees standing.
- Biodiversity baselines and monitoring of threatened species
- Species-distribution modelling to target protection
- Respect for IFC PS6: avoid, minimise, restore, offset last
Why it matters for the world
Forest carbon and peatlands as a global buffer.
Habitat, species and ecosystem integrity.
Livelihoods, food security and fair benefit-sharing.
Sources: World Economic Forum; Global Change Biology 32(1), 2026; Mail & Guardian (12 Nov 2025); IUCN; CBD; African Forest Forum.