A groundbreaking report released by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) on December 3, 2024, has unveiled the discovery of 742 new species of wildlife and plants in the Congo Basin over the last decade. The report, titled “New Life in the Congo Basin: a Decade of Species Discoveries (2013-2023),” highlights the region’s remarkable biodiversity and underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts.
The Congo Basin: A Biodiversity Haven
The Congo Basin, spanning across six countries – Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo – is the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world, covering an area of over 2 million square kilometers. This ecosystem provides vital support for over 75 million people, serving as a source of food, shelter, and cultural identity.
New Species Discoveries
The report documents the work of hundreds of scientists from universities, conservation organisations, and research institutes worldwide. Among the discoveries are unique orchids, new species of coffee, clawed frogs, crocodiles, electric fish, owls, spiders, turtles, and even a monkey species known locally as the ‘lesula.’ These findings illustrate not only the richness of the Congo Basin but also the pressing need for conservation efforts to protect its fragile ecosystems.
Conservation Challenges
The Congo Basin faces significant environmental pressures, including deforestation, poaching, climate change, mining, and human-wildlife conflict. These threats endanger not only newly discovered species but also iconic species like forest elephants and great apes. The WWF is working alongside governments, partner organisations, local communities, and indigenous groups to protect these ecosystems.
The report emphasises the crucial role of indigenous knowledge in conservation. Indigenous communities, who have coexisted with these forests for generations, are key to preserving and understanding this biodiversity. Many of the species in this report, while newly described in scientific literature, have been familiar to local communities through generations.
WWF’s Call to Action
The WWF is calling for urgent action to protect the unique and endangered biodiversity in the Congo Basin. The organisation is supporting governments in the region to identify and effectively protect 30% of their land by 2030.
