The Congo Basin is rich in biodiversity and stores an estimated 25%-30% of the world’s tropical forest carbon stocks. As agricultural land becomes increasingly scarce in Southeast Asia, and regulatory pressures continue to intensify, the Congo Basin could become the next frontier for oil palm expansion. Most of the roughly 280 million hectares (Mha) of additional land suitable for oil palm in the Congo Basin are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo (60%), Cameroon (11%) and the Republic of Congo (10%).

Authors: Ordway, E.M.; Sonwa, D.J.; Levang, P.; Mboringong, F.; III, L.M.; Naylor, R.L.; Nkongho, R.N.

Subjects: oil palms, deforestation, carbon, plantations

Publication type: Brief

Year: 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17528/cifor/007279