How Could Agricultural Policies and Practices Influence the Future of the Congo Basin’s Biodiversity and Ecosystems?

Abstract

Abstract This chapter explores how agricultural policies and practices shape biodiversity outcomes and ecosystem health in the Congo Basin. It highlights the dual role of agriculture as both a driver of biodiversity loss and a sector dependent on ecosystem services like pollination and water regulation. Shifting cultivation, expanding commercial plantations, and land tenure insecurity are contributing to deforestation, soil degradation, and exacerbating climate vulnerability. Yet, promising practices such as agroforestry, ecological intensification, and agroecological zoning offer integrated approaches to enhance productivity while preserving biodiversity. The chapter emphasizes the need for effective land-use planning, capacity building, and tailored policies that align agricultural development with climate mitigation and conservation goals. By comparing the Congo Basin with experiences from Southeast Asia and Latin America, the authors stress the urgency of transitioning away from slash-and-burn agriculture. Precision agriculture, investment in data infrastructure, and stakeholder-inclusive planning are essential to restore degraded lands and secure food systems. Financial mechanisms like green bonds are proposed to support agroecological transitions. Ultimately, sustainable agriculture must be positioned as both a development and a conservation tool, ensuring that rural livelihoods and global biodiversity targets are mutually reinforcing.