The Congo Basin: The Planet's Second Green Lung

The Congo Basin, spanning six Central African nations including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, is home to the world's second-largest continuous tropical forest. With approximately 3.7 million square kilometers of forest cover, these forests sequester between 60 and 80 billion tonnes of carbon — a stock comparable to more than ten years of global emissions at current rates.

Unlike the Amazon, Congo Basin forests have maintained relatively low deforestation rates until recently. This relative integrity makes them a particularly valuable carbon asset: REDD+ projects can demonstrate a credible deforestation threat without having to work in already heavily degraded landscapes.

Cameroon plays a central role in Congo Basin forest governance. With 22 million hectares of moist tropical forests — largely in the Centre, South, East, and Littoral regions — the country has a considerable pipeline of potential carbon projects. The Cameroon government has established a National Carbon Registry to oversee credit issuance and transfer.

For carbon credit buyers seeking large volumes at good value, the Congo Basin represents arguably the world's largest untapped opportunity. The challenges — complex governance, difficult access, land tenure questions — are real but surmountable for experienced project developers.