In northern Republic of Congo, increasingly severe droughts and irregular rainfall are making vegetation more vulnerable to wildfires. Fires traditionally used by local communities for everyday activities can now spread rapidly into forest areas.
Around 50% of the gallery forests along the Likouala-aux-Herbes River have disappeared over the past 20 years. This threatens biodiversity, local communities' livelihoods and the peatlands of the Congo Basin, which store vast amounts of carbon.
In this report from the heart of the Lac Télé Community Reserve, Le Temps speaks with conservation practitioners and explores the growing challenges of protecting these vital ecosystems.
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