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Congo deforestation in surprise fall

Summary

22 July 2013

Scientists say that the cutting down of trees in one of the world's largest rainforests has dramatically decreased. A new study shows that deforestation in central Africa's Congo Basin has fallen by about a third since 2000. The study is published in the Royal Society's journal.

Reporter:

Rebecca Morelle

Report

Sprawling¹ across the heart of Africa, the Congo Basin rainforest is second only to the Amazon in size. And this latest study reveals that it's in far better health than expected.

Using images taken from satellites, researchers tracked how the dense² swathes of foliage³ changed over time. They found that during the 1990s, nearly 3,000 sq km of forest were being felled each year.

But in the decade to 2010 the rate of deforestation slowed. Fewer than 2,000 sq km were lost - an overall decrease of a third.

The scientists believe this is partly down to improved conservation measures. But they also note that the region's economic priorities have changed.

Elsewhere around the world, rainforests are being cleared to make way for agriculture, but in central Africa, a focus on mining and oil has left the Congo Basin more intact.

The scientists say that the Congo Basin plays a key role in storing carbon - and losing areas of it would have a large impact on climate change.