IKI-funded Congo Peatlands Project "Securing Crucial Biodiversity, Carbon and Water Stores in the Congo Basin Peatlands by Enabling Evidence-Based Decision-Making and Good Governance" announces stakeholder Consultation for Advancing Evidence-Based Hydrological Decision-Making for Peatland Management in the Congo Basin.
13-14 March 2025 – Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.
The peatlands of the Congo Basin are globally significant ecosystems, serving as vital carbon stores, biodiversity hotspots, and essential water regulators. These peatlands, spanning approximately 167,600 km², store an estimated 29 gigatons of carbon below ground in peat, equivalent to nearly two years of global CO₂ equivalent emissions. Beyond their global importance, these ecosystems provide critical resources for local communities and Indigenous Peoples, supporting livelihoods and contributing to regional resilience against climate change.
Recognizing their importance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with funding from the German government through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), is implementing the project “Securing Crucial Biodiversity, Carbon, and Water Stores in the Congo Basin Peatlands by Enabling Evidence-Based Decision-Making and Good Governance.” The project aims to support the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in conserving and sustainably managing these peatlands while promoting biodiversity-friendly development. The project's integrated approach includes strengthening the enabling environment, supporting local livelihoods, and strengthening scientific evidence in policymaking related to peatland management, including biodiversity, climate, hydrology, and peatland mapping. The project is part of the UNEP-led Congo Basin Sustainable Landscapes Programme, which includes the GEF-funded Congo Basin Integrated Programme.
Stakeholder Consultations
A core component of the project involves the co-development with national stakeholders of a Hydrological Decision Support System (HDSS) for the Lac Télé-Lac Tumba landscape—a science-based tool designed to simulate the impacts of various development and climate scenarios on the hydrology of peatland ecosystems. This system is critical for integrating hydrological dynamics into decision-making processes, ensuring that development strategies are informed by robust analyses. The technical development of the HDSS is being carried out by UNEP’s technical implementing partner, UNEP-DHI Partnership – Centre on Water and Environment, in close coordination with project stakeholders.
To advance this work, UNEP is organizing a stakeholder consultation workshop in Brazzaville from 13-14 March 2025. This consultation aims to:
- Exchange information on the HDSS’s functionality and development progress.
- Refine the tool to meet national decision-making needs.
- Map development scenarios that could impact peatland hydrology and integrity.
- Identify institutions to host, maintain, and operationalize the HDSS beyond the project’s duration.
The workshop will involve representatives from government agencies, research institutions, development organizations, and other stakeholders.
For more information, contact Simon Tanios (UNEP): [email protected]