Western Congolian swamp forests

The Western Congolian swamp forests are an ecoregion of the Republic of the Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Together with the adjacent Eastern Congolian swamp forests, it forms one of the largest continuous areas of freshwater swamp forest in the world. It is a flooded forest with a high canopy, dense undergrowth and has a muddy floor. It has not been disturbed very much by outside influences and so remains largely pristine as getting through this forest is called "almost impossible".[2]

Western Congolian swamp forests
Map of the Western Congolian swamp forests
Ecology
RealmAfrotropical
BiomeTropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
BordersEastern Congolian swamp forests, Northeast Congolian lowland forests, Northwest Congolian lowland forests and Western Congolian forest-savanna mosaic
Geography
Area128,060 km2 (49,440 sq mi)
CountriesDemocratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo
Conservation
Conservation statusrelatively stable
Protected52,662 km² (41%)[1]

Flora

The ecoregion contains areas of permanently flooded swamp forest, seasonally flooded swamp forest, and flooded grassland. The permanently flooded swamp forests are home to extensive stands of Raphia palm. Trees in the seasonally flooded forests include species of Garcinia and Manilkara.

Fauna

The ecoregion is home to the endangered western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis).

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See also
  • Congolian forests

References
  1. Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b.
  2. World Wildlife Fund, ed. (2001). "Western Congolian swamp forests". WildWorld Ecoregion Profile. National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
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