Predicting Future Forest Loss in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s CARPE Landscapes

This paper discusses findings from a spatial land use change modeling study on future forest loss in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s forests. Key findings include a historical analysis of forest loss, identification of the influence of drivers on forest loss, the amount and location of future forest loss and associated carbon emissions, and implications for future land-use and climate policy decisions.

The Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE) is an initiative of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), whose main objectives are to mitigate climate change and sustainably manage forests in Central Africa. As the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC)...