Congo basin rainforest faces unprecedented destruction as drc loses record 1.5 million acres in 2024

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) lost a staggering 590,000 hectares—roughly 1.5 million acres—of pristine rainforest in 2024, marking the highest annual forest loss on record according to new satellite data from Global Forest Watch. This represents a dramatic escalation in the destruction of the Congo Basin, often called “Earth’s second lung” for its critical role in regulating global climate.

The Congo Basin rainforest spans an area comparable to India and serves as both a biodiversity hotspot and a lifeline for millions of people. Home to endangered great apes including gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos, as well as forest elephants and countless other species, this vast ecosystem provides food, energy, and income for local communities while absorbing greenhouse gases that help stabilize our planet’s climate. The DRC contains 60% of this irreplaceable forest, with natural forest covering around 70% of the country as of 2020.

The 2024 figures represent a troubling acceleration in forest destruction, jumping from 530,000 hectares lost in 2023 and 510,000 hectares in 2022. Over the past two decades, the DRC has lost 7.1% of its total forest cover, ranking third globally for primary forest loss behind only Brazil and Indonesia. Scientists warn that actual losses may be even higher than reported, as previous satellite monitoring methods likely underestimated the true scale of deforestation. This unprecedented destruction threatens not only local communities and wildlife but also global efforts to combat climate change.