03 December 2024

Press Release

For immediate release

A Decade of Discovery - WWF report reveals 742 new species discovered in the Congo Basin

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (3 December 2024) - 742 new species of wildlife and plants have been discovered in the Congo Basin in the last ten years, a report released today by WWF reveals. The report entitled “New Life in the Congo Basin: a Decade of Species Discoveries (2013 - 2023)” highlights the remarkable biodiversity and the urgent conservation needs of one of the world's most vital ecosystems.

The report documents the work of hundreds of scientists from universities, conservation organisations and research institutes around the world*. It reveals a stunning array of new species, including previously unknown plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Among these discoveries are a slender-snouted crocodile, a new coffee plant, and a monkey known locally as the ‘lesula’. Other new species include a dragonfly named after a Pink Floyd album, an owl with a cat-like call, a striking venomous bush viper, delicate orchids and brightly-coloured killifish.

The findings illustrate not only the richness of the Congo Basin but also the pressing need for conservation efforts to protect its fragile ecosystems. Known as the “lungs of Africa”, the Congo Basin is the largest carbon sink in the world. It is also the largest tropical peatland in the world. Spanning across six countries, its rainforest provides food security and an essential lifeline for indigenous and local populations and serves as a critical habitat for endangered species.

This latest report follows the WWF’s Living Planet Report 2024 which revealed an alarming decline in global wildlife populations, particularly in tropical regions. As the world faces increasing threats including dangerous tipping points, the Congo Basin’s significance has never been greater.

Dr. Martin Kabaluapa, WWF Regional Director for the Congo Basin, said "The Congo Basin is not just a biodiversity haven; it is essential for the well-being of over 75 million people who depend on its resources for food, shelter, and cultural identity. This report serves as a call to action for governments, conservationists, and communities to work together to safeguard this irreplaceable natural heritage. As we celebrate these discoveries, we also recognize that they come with an urgent responsibility to protect these vital ecosystems.”

The Congo Basin faces major environmental pressures, including deforestation, poaching, climate change, mining, and human-wildlife conflict. These threats endanger not only newly discovered species but also iconic species like forest elephants and great apes.

Jaap van der Waarde, Head of Conservation for the Congo Basin at WWF International said: “Our commitment to the Congo Basin is unwavering. WWF is working alongside governments, partner organisations, local communities and indigenous groups to protect these ecosystems. From bio-monitoring programs to FSC certification of logging concessions, our goal is to ensure that future generations will experience the wonders of the Congo Basin.”

The report also celebrates the role of indigenous knowledge in conservation. Indigenous communities, who have coexisted with these forests for generations, are key to preserving and understanding this biodiversity. Many of the species in this report, while newly described in scientific literature, have been familiar to local communities through generations.

Moise Kono, Indigenous Peoples Coordinator for WWF Cameroon said “For centuries, indigenous communities have lived in harmony with the forests. Recognising their knowledge is integral to conservation success. It is crucial that their voices and rights are respected as stewards of this land.”

Paul De Ornellas, Chief Advisor, Wildlife, WWF UK said “From the smallest insects to plants, birds, reptiles, fish and even mammals, the extraordinary discoveries detailed in this report shows that there is still so much that we do not know about our world. And yet, even as these findings demonstrate the remarkable richness of this extraordinary environment it is one that is under threat from pressures such as deforestation, poaching and climate change.

For the region, and indeed the world, there is an urgent need to recognise the importance of vital ecosystems like the Congo Basin and to take effective and lasting action to protect them.”

WWF is calling for urgent action to protect the unique and endangered biodiversity in the Congo Basin. The governments in the region have agreed to bring 30% of their land under some form of protection by 2030 and WWF is supporting them to identify these areas and effectively protect them. The existing protected areas are also in dire need of more effective management. Meanwhile, a recent study conducted in Gabon and the Republic of Congo revealed that a higher number of large mammals are found in logging concessions certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) unlike in non-certified forest. Sustainability certification is therefore a proven method to both protect biodiversity and create economic benefits for communities and governments.

Notes to editors:

The full report can be found here and images of the species here

Geographical scope: The report spans six countries—Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo. WWF works in five of them, but not in Equatorial Guinea.

Species discoveries: The report compiles work by researchers from diverse horizons who discovered 742 newly described species from 2013-2023, including plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Each discovery underscores the Congo Basin’s rich biodiversity and ecological importance.

What “new to science” means: “New to science” indicates species formally identified and documented for the first time in scientific literature. While newly described by researchers, many of these species have been known to local communities for generations.

Distribution by country: The discoveries span six countries within the Congo Basin:

Cameroon: 238 species
Central African Republic: 25 species
Democratic Republic of Congo: 259 species
Equatorial Guinea: 59 species
Gabon: 262 species
Republic of Congo: 65 species

Species by category: The discoveries include 430 plants, 140 invertebrates, 96 fish, 22 amphibians, 42 reptiles, 2 birds, and 10 mammals.

Research methods: *Species were discovered through extensive field research, involving specimen collection, genetic analysis, and documentation, often in collaboration with local communities. The report compiles the work done by diverse researchers from across the world. Except where stated in the report WWF is not funder or organiser of research or discoverer of listed species.

Importance of the Congo Basin as carbon sink: Known as the “lungs of Africa”, the Congo Basin is the largest carbon sink in the world, absorbing more carbon than the Amazon. Spanning across six countries, its rainforest provides food security and an essential lifeline for indigenous and local populations and serves as a critical habitat for endangered species (World Bank). Of the world’s three largest tropical rainforests, only the Congo has enough standing forest left to remain a strong net carbon sink. The Congo Basin’s tropical rainforest sequesters 600 million metric tonnes more carbon dioxide per year than it emits, equivalent to about one-third of the CO2 emissions from all U.S. transportation (WRI).

Ecological impact of FSC certification: A new study, published in Nature on April 10, 2024, shows that FSC-certified forests in Gabon and the Republic of Congo harbor significantly more large mammals, such as gorillas and elephants, compared to non-certified areas, demonstrating the positive impact of sustainable forest management on biodiversity. The research highlights how proactive measures, like curbing illegal hunting and employing reduced-impact logging, support wildlife conservation while also benefiting forest health and local communities.