Ch00 Introduction (Definitions, limits and Discussion on Congo Basin) -- Ch01 (Geology and geodynamics evolution) -- Ch02 (Climate of the Congo Basin) -- Ch03 (Evolution of Ecosystem Diversity) -- Ch04 (The Hydrology of the Congo Basin) -- Ch05 (The Hydrology of the Ogouée and Sanaga Basins) -- Ch06 (Central African Rainforest Archaeology) -- Ch07 (Human Occupation of the Congo Basin) -- Ch08 (Cultural and Biological Diversity) -- Ch09 (The Ecological Functions of Congo Basin) -- Ch10 (Congo Basin Economic Drivers) -- Ch11 (Agriculture in the Congo Basin) -- Ch12 (Pastoralism in the Congo Basin) -- Ch13 (Timber in the Congo Basin) -- Ch14 (Mining in the Congo Basin) -- Ch15 (Hunting and Fishing in the Congo Basin) -- Ch16 (Climate Change in the Congo Basin) -- Ch17 (Urbanization in the Congo Basin) -- Ch18 (History of Protected Areas in the Congo Basin) -- Ch19 (Ecosystem functions in the Congo Basin) -- Ch20 (Effects of Diseases on Wildlife Species in the Congo Basin) -- Ch21 (Human Influence on Biodiversity in the Congo Basin) -- Ch22 (Opportunities for Sustainable Development) -- Ch23 (The likely future of the Congo Basin biodiversity) -- Ch24 (Factors of the Economic forecasts for the Congo Basin) -- Ch25 (Agriculture and the Future of the Congo Basin) -- Ch26 (Logging influence on the future of the Congo Basin) -- Ch27 (Hunting, Fishing and the Future of the Congo Basin) -- Ch28 (Mining influence on the future of the Congo Basin) -- Ch29 (Cities, infrastructure, energy and the future of the Basin) -- Ch30 (Emerging Diseases and biodiversity in the Congo Basin) -- Ch31 (The Climate and Land-Use Change Feedback) -- Ch32 (Dimensions of conservation areas and other Land uses) -- Ch33 (Tapping into Indigenous Knowledge) -- Ch34 (Nature-based Solutions in the Congo Basin) -- Ch35 (Solutions of Economic Initiatives) -- Ch36 (Restoring and Re-wilding across the Congo Basin) -- Ch37 (Politics and the Natural Resources Management Policies) -- Ch38 (Trends in the context of 30 x 30 Congo Basin Engagements) -- Ch39 (The 2050 Foresighted Congo Basin).

Open Access

This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access. This book is the 2025 Congo Basin Assessment Report, which synthesizes existing scientific knowledge, including that of Indigenous peoples and autochthonous communities, on the functioning of and threats to the Congo Basin and its ecosystems. As such, it is the first of its kind and constitutes the primary product of the Science Panel for the Congo Basin (SPCB). The book offers a meta-analysis of published materials on the Congo Basin, synthesizing all available knowledge on various aspects of the Congo Basin ecosystems; it collates peer-reviewed published materials from past and ongoing research. However, far from being a simple compilation of dispersed published materials, the book brings together diverse knowledge from various areas of scientific inquiry assembled in a coherent set of new meta-knowledge necessary to guide future decisions that will impact the entire Congo Basin. Structurally, the book first assesses the past and present ecological conditions of the Congo Basin before assembling available knowledge to suggest the trajectories the Congo Basin is likely to take if current trends (business-as-usual models) remain constant. With this latter feature, the authors of Congo Basin scientists provide scenarios to help policy-makers ensure that economic activities have less detrimental impact on the sustainability of essential ecological functions and the vibrancy of the cultural diversity of the Congo Basin. Congo Basin in this book includes both the Congo Basin and the Ogooué Basin; as such, the book covers what is also known as Central African Forests. This book contributes to SDGs by synthesizing scientific and Indigenous knowledge to advance climate action (SDG 13), protect terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15), ensure clean water and sustainable use (SDG 6), promote responsible economic practices (SDG 12), foster sustainable communities (SDG 11), and encourage partnerships (SDG 17) for the Congo Basin's preservation.