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Ecoregions of Congo, Democratic Republic of (WWF)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:17:31 GMT

Ecoregions are areas that: [1] share a large majority of their species and ecological dynamics; [2] share similar environmental conditions; and, [3] interact ecologically in ways that are critical for their long-term persistence. Scientists at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), have established a classification system that divides the world in 867 terrestrial ecoregions, 426 freshwater ecoregions and 229 marine ecoregions that reflect the distribution of a broad range of fauna and flora across the entire planet.

The following WWF ecoregions are found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:

Central African mangroves (AT1401) flank the coastline of western and central Africa, in suitable low energy marine environments. There is a large mangrove stand in the delta of the Congo River. The mangroves of this region have no endemic species but support some endangered species, such as manatees and perhaps pygmy hippopotamuses in the Niger Delta. Mangroves are important as nursery and feeding areas for marine fishes, and they trap large amounts of sediment. The oil industry, clearance for salt pans, and overcutting by an increasing human population pose serious threats to these mangroves, but some are contained within protected areas.
Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests (AT0102) extends from the Sanaga River in west-central Cameroon south to the west if Democratic Republic of Congo, just north of the mouth of the Congo River and inland from the coast. The ecoregion has exceptionally high levels of species richness and endemism, contains large blocks of evergreen lowland moist forest, and the central portion has one of the lowest human population densities in Africa. Most of the floral and faunal assemblages are intact, including assemblages of threatened large mammals, such as the Western lowland gorilla, mandrill, and Sun-tailed monkey. Important centers of endemism are found in this ecoregion, particularly in some of the coastal mountain ranges.
Western Congolian forest-savanna mosaic (AT0723) covers most of western DRC where large dissected plateaus frame the lower Congo River, separated by spectacular canyons that plunge down to depths of 980 ft (300 m). Around the river, and extending further south into Angola, this ecoregion is a mix of dry and moist forests, savanna, and grasslands. A number of primates can be found here, including the endangered Bouvier’s red colobus and the Black mangabey, which lives in the forest canopy along waterways. Other mammals found here include elephants, lions, forest buffaloes, warthogs, and a variety of antelopes such as waterbuck, reedbuck, common duiker, and even the swamp-dwelling sitatunga, the most aquatic of the antelopes. A number of bird species are endemic here, including the [White-headed robin-chat]] and the Orange-breasted bush-shrike, two species threatened by forest clearing. Major urban centers, such as Kinshasa and Brazzaville, hold human populations that still depend on the forest for resources such as bushmeat and wood for construction. The Congo River and local roads provide easy access to the forest. In more rural areas, vegetation is often converted to agriculture. But perhaps the biggest threat of all has been civil wars plaguing Angola, the DRC, and the Republic of Congo which produce massive movements of refugees and devastate the environment.
Southern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic (AT0718) lovers a large swath of southern central DRC. It is part of the tropical savanna climate zone covering the southeastern part of the Congo Basin and gradually rising onto the Central African Plateau. Deep river valleys cut through the plateau. Small, lush forests called gallery forests grow along the waterways, while elsewhere the vegetation consists of a mix of lowland rain forest, dry forest, and secondary grassland. Among the many trees that grow in the region are false chewsticks, Senegal date palms, East African mahoganies, and African breadfruits. The fleshy fruit of African breadfruit trees is often fed to domestic livestock, and the nuts are roasted for human consumption. Other trees and shrubs in the region include acacias, wild custard apple trees, heart trees, and the pink jacaranda--a small tree with a rounded umbrella-like crown and pink blossoms.
Central Congolian lowland forests (AT0104) occupy the central part of the Congo Basin, south of the wide arc formed by the Congo River.The ecoregion is globally recognized for its intact assemblages of rainforest flora and fauna, particularly the Bonobo. Apart from primates, however, very little biological information exists. The northern, eastern, and western limits of the ecoregion are bound by the Congo River and swamp forest while in the south there is a gradual transition to savanna-forest mosaic. There are few threats at present, with most of the area remaining largely intact. Scientific research is a priority, together with the enhanced management of existing protected areas.
Eastern Congolian swamp forests (AT0110) are found on the left bank (facing downriver) of the Congo River and its tributaries, forming a large arc across the central portion of the Congo Basin. Combined with the neighboring Western Congolian swamp forest, this ecoregion contains some of the largest areas of swamp forest on the planet. Although not known to be particularly outstanding in either species richness or endemism, these forests are largely intact. Poaching is likely to have reduced populations of forest elephants (Loxodonta africana cyclotis) along the main rivers, especially close to any navigable waterways. Biologically, this is one of the least known ecoregions in the world, and surveys are urgently needed. Conservation efforts are required to safeguard populations of Bonobos, and to assist the management of protected areas.
Western Congolian swamp forests (AT0129) occupy the western bank of the Congo River, which forms a major biogeographic barrier to the Eastern Congolian swamp forests and Central Congolian lowland forests. This ecoregion, combined with the neighboring Eastern Congolian swamp forests, contains one of the largest continuous areas of swamp forest in the world. Although relatively few species have been recorded, it remains largely intact and contains large populations of western lowland gorilla. Poaching is thought to have reduced populations of forest elephants ([[Loxodonta africana cyclotis]]) along the navigable waterways. Little research has focused on this region, and further efforts are necessary to better understand these forests and their species composition. There are no protected areas.
Northeastern Congolian lowland forests (AT0124) cover much of the northeastern portion of the DRC and extends into the southeastern portion of the Central African Republic. The ecoregion contains endemic species and large areas of forest wilderness with intact animal and plant assemblages. Endemic species include the okapi , aquatic genet, and the Congo peacock. The forests also provide critical habitat for endangered species such as eastern lowland gorilla. There are some protected areas, but the recent military conflicts in Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have made these difficult to manage. Threats come from mining, logging, hunting, and agricultural clearance of forest, often by refugees.
Northern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic (AT0712) forms the northern border of the Congo watershed, sweeping across the continent from the Cameroon highlands to the beginning of the Nile watershed in border region of Sudan and Uganda, taking in the northeastern DRC. This narrow transition zone marks an abrupt habitat discontinuity between the extensive Congolian rain forests and Sudanian/Sahelian grasslands. With their characteristically diverse habitat complexes, forest savanna mosaics support a high proportion of ecotonal habitats, which have high species richness and are possible locii of tropical differentiation and speciation. The gallery forests of Garamba National Park in northeastern DRC shelter the last known populations of northern white (square-lipped) rhinoceros and at the western extreme of this ecoregion is the last population of the western black rhino. However, political and economic instability and population growth throughout Central Africa exert intense pressure on parts of this ecoregion, especially in the eastern portion. The Garamba rhinos had plunged to a record low of 15 individuals in 1984 as a result of intensive poaching. By 1996, their numbers doubled under conservation efforts, but continuing regional instability could eliminate this remnant population.
Albertine Rift montane forests (AT0101) covers the eastern edge of the country where the Albertine Rift, with its lakes and flanking mountains forms a natural boundary with Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. The Albertine Rift Mountains are an area of exceptional faunal and moderate floral endemism. These mountains also support the Mountain gorilla, which is one of the most charismatic flagship species in Africa, and an effective target for much of the current conservation investment in the area. The mountain chain comprising the Albertine Rift straddles the borders of five different nations, and this makes effective ecoregional conservation a challenge in the area. Although there are a number of National Parks and Forest Reserves in the area, the recent wars have made their management difficult over much of the ecoregion. Additional threats include conversion of most forest areas outside reserves into farmland, together with logging, firewood collection, and bushmeat hunting within the remaining forest areas.
Ruwenzori-Virunga montane moorlands (AT1013) occurs in two mall border areas mostly above 9,800 feet (3,000 m) atop the Ruwenzori and Virunga mountains. Habitat types include lakes at various altitudes, marshy deltas and peat bogs, open montane grasslands, areas of scrub, patches of high elevation forest, glaciers, and even snow fields. It include habitat for the vulnerable mountain gorilla, the Ruwenzori-Virunga Montane Moorlands contain two World Heritage Sites--areas set aside for protection by international treaties.
Central Zambezian Miombo woodlands (AT0704) covers most of the southeastern quarter of the DRC. This is one of the largest ecoregions in Africa, ranging from Angola up to the shores of Lake Victoria in Tanzania. All the typical miombo flora are represented here, but this region has a higher degree of floral richness, with far more evergreen trees than elsewhere in the miombo biome. The harsh dry season, long droughts, and poor soils are ameliorated by the numerous wetlands spread throughout the ecoregion, covering up to 30 percent of the region’s total area. As a result, a diverse mix of animals is found here, from sitatunga (swamp-dwelling antelopes), to chimpanzees, in the world-famous Gombe Stream Reserve just across the DRC’s Lake Tanganyika border with Tanzania.. The bird life is also exceptionally rich, as is the fauna of some amphibian groups. The ecoregion contains areas of near-wilderness with exceptionally low human populations and extensive protected areas. Other parts of the ecoregion, typically close to lakes and mountains, have higher population densities and the miombo is much more degraded. Bushmeat hunting, dryland agriculture, deforestation especially for charcoal production near larger towns, and mining are increasing threat in this ecoregion.

Further Reading

Bailey, Robert G. 2002. Ecoregion-Based Design for Sustainability. Springer-Verlag. New York, New York. 240pp., 100 illus. ISBN 0-387-95430-9
Bailey, Robert G. 1998. Ecoregions: The Ecosystem Geography of the Oceans and the Continents. Springer-Verlag. New York, New York. 192pp., 107 illus., 10 tables. ISBN 0-387-98305-8
Bailey, Robert G. 1996. Ecosystem Geography. Springer-Verlag. New York, New York. 216pp., 122 illus., 14 tables. ISBN 0-387-94586-5
Omernik, James M., 1995. Ecoregions: A spatial framework for environmental management. In: Biological Assessment and Criteria: Tools for Water Resource Planning and Decision Making. Davis, W.S. and T.P. Simon (eds.) Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL. Pp. 49-62. ISBN: 0873718941.
World Wildlife Fund, Ecoregions homepage, Accessed 1 May 2009.

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