Managed rainforests support higher carbon density and sequestration in the Congo Basin.
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 42062283.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-72399-4.
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Abstract
Land-use is a key driver of forest loss and aboveground live carbon (AGC) emissions in the Congo Basin (CB) rainforest. Here we evaluate the influence of land-use disturbances on AGC stocks and fluxes by developing an AGC density map for the year 2020 and integrating it with high-resolution forest cover change data spanning 30 years (1990-2020) to quantify carbon emissions and removals. Logged forests show 8% (5%-10%) less AGC compared to old growth, while slash-and-burn and unmanaged degradations display up to 50% differences. Unmanaged areas account for 54% of the region's AGC storage. Old growth dominates the total AGC removals (84%) with the region functioning as a net AGC sink at -37.5 ± 4.8 TgCyr<sup>1</sup>, driven by logging concessions (-21.3 ± 2.4 TgCyr<sup>-1</sup>) and protected areas (-15.7 ± 2.2 TgCyr<sup>-1</sup>), while unmanaged areas remained nearly neutral. These findings emphasize the role of sustainable forests management to enhance carbon retention in the region.