Living under a Fluctuating Climate and a Drying Congo Basin

Denis Jean Sonwa, Mfochivé Oumarou Farikou, Gapia Martial and Fiyo Losembe Félix
Additional contact information
Denis Jean Sonwa: Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Yaoundé P. O. Box 2008 Messa, Cameroon
Mfochivé Oumarou Farikou: Department of Earth Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé P. O. Box 812, Cameroon
Gapia Martial: Higher Institute of Rural Development (ISDR of Mbaïki), University of Bangui, Bangui P. O. Box 1450, Central African Republic (CAR)
Fiyo Losembe Félix: Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources Management, University of Kisangani, Kisangani P. O. Box 2012, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-22

Abstract: Humid conditions and equatorial forest in the Congo Basin have allowed for the maintenance of significant biodiversity and carbon stock. The ecological services and products of this forest are of high importance, particularly for smallholders living in forest landscapes and watersheds. Unfortunately, in addition to deforestation and forest degradation, climate change/variability are impacting this region, including both forests and populations. We developed three case studies based on field observations in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as information from the literature. Our key findings are: (1) the forest-related water cycle of the Congo Basin is not stable, and is gradually changing; (2) climate change is impacting the water cycle of the basin; and, (3) the slow modification of the water cycle is affecting livelihoods in the Congo Basin. Developmental and environmental actions in the Congo Basin need to properly consider the slight modification of this water cycle in watersheds that affect products and services from the forest.

Keywords: forest hydrological cycle; rainfall stream flow nexus; Congo Basin; hydrological forest- related services and products; vulnerabilities; adaptation to climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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