The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is once again auctioning vast tracts of the Congo Basin rainforest—one of the world’s most biodiverse and climate-critical ecosystems—for oil exploration. This latest round offers 52 blocks spanning 124 million hectares. Home to endangered species like bonobos and gorillas, and storing several years’ worth of global carbon emissions in its peatlands, the region faces irreversible damage if drilling proceeds. Despite a failed 2022 auction and international backlash, the DRC government is trying again, even as it promotes a major conservation initiative overlapping the same areas. While supporters claim oil could boost the DRC’s economy without destroying its forests, pointing to Gabon’s example, critics warn the plan threatens 64% of the nation’s forest cover, millions of livelihoods, and the integrity of new conservation projects.
The Guardian
