Agriculture and Forests in the Congo Basin: How Can Geospatial Data Inform Action?

2:00 PM Yaoundé/WAT (UTC+1) | 8:00 AM (EST)

According to Global Nature Watch (GNW) data, the Congo Basin lost approximately 7.34 million hectares of primary forests between 2015 and 2025, with agriculture being the leading driver of this loss. While small-scale shifting cultivation remains a major contributor, industrial agriculture is placing growing pressure on forests in parts of the region.

Agriculture plays an essential role in the economies and livelihoods of communities across the Congo Basin, particularly in rural areas where it supports food security and household incomes. As countries seek to expand agricultural production, understanding where and how farming activities affect forests is increasingly important for informing land-use planning, forest monitoring and sustainable development policies.

Geospatial data can help identify areas experiencing agriculture-driven forest loss, monitor changes in land use, and support decisions that balance agricultural development with forest conservation. Yet turning these data into practical tools for decision-making requires stronger coordination between the agriculture and forestry sectors, better data management, and greater access to monitoring tools.

Session description

This webinar, organized by World Resources Institute and Global Nature Watch (GNW) , will explore how geospatial data and tools from GNW can help countries in the Congo Basin better understand and respond to forest loss linked to agricultural activities.

The session will present regional trends in tree cover loss from 2015 to 2025, with a closer look at the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cameroon. Speakers will discuss the role of small-scale and industrial agriculture in shaping forest loss patterns and examine how geospatial information can support agricultural planning, forest monitoring, and more informed policy decisions.

Bringing together representatives from public institutions, research organizations, civil society, the private sector and development partners, the discussion will also explore opportunities to strengthen data systems and collaboration between the agriculture and forestry sectors and actors.

Held ahead of COP31, the webinar will provide an opportunity to reflect on how better use of geospatial data can support sustainable agricultural development, forest conservation and REDD+ efforts across the Congo Basin.