Congo serves as an essential carbon sink, storing an estimated 22.9 gigatons of carbon and is also one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots.
The loss of 80 percent of all Grauer's, or eastern lowland, gorillas in the past two decades has led to a severe reduction in the subspecies' genetic diversity, new research has found.
Concern is mounting for the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) vast forests and rich wildlife as logging concessions and licenses to explore for oil in protected areas are prepared ahead of presidential elections later this year.
Climate change is reshaping relations between parks, people and the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. But more and deeper research is needed to determine likely long-term impacts.
