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Three global ecosystems account for 80% of the world's tropical forests
Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan is representing India at the Second Summit of the Three Basins (Amazon, Congo and Borneo Mekong South-east Asia) for Biodiversity Ecosystem and Tropical Forests being held in Brazzaville, capital of Republic of Congo.
"Its an opportunity for India to reiterate its stand and contribution in conserving tropical forests and biodiversity ecosystems. MoS is expected to interact with dignitaries attending the Summit," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said as it announced the visit on Thursday (October 27, 2023).
This visit on October 27-28, 2023 is MoS Muraleedharan's first visit to Congo.
IMPORTANCE OF TROPICAL FORESTS
According to the official website of the Summit of the Three Basins, the three global ecosystems account for 80% of the world's tropical forests and two-thirds of the earth's biodiversity, and provide the vital role of world regulator of the carbon balance and life on earth.
The Amazon Basin is the largest tropical forest on the planet and extends across nine countries in South America.
According to information available on the Summit of the Three Basins website:
* Amazon contains 550 million hectares of dense forests, one-third of the remaining tropical rainforests on the planet, with nearly 390 billion trees representing 13% of the world’s trees.
* It is home to 10% of the world’s biodiversity with 40,000 species of plants, 3,000 species of freshwater fish, and over 370 reptiles, in addition to other still unknown and unrecorded species.
On the other hand, the Congo Basin
represents the second largest tropical forest in the world in terms of area, after the Amazon Basin.
This vast forest of 286 million hectares extends over six countries in Central Africa: the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, representing 6% of the world’s forest area.
"It plays a crucial role in the stability of the global climate, with its forest cover and peatlands sequestering the equivalent of 10 years of global CO2 emissions," says the website.
According to information provided on the website, more than 10,000 species of tropical plants and endangered species are found in the region, including 30% endemic, such as forest elephants, plain and mountain gorillas, and okapis. In total, more than 400 species of mammals, 1,000 species of birds, and 700 species of fish are found there.
The Borneo-Mekong-Southeast Asia Basin is the world’s third largest carbon sink and is composed of two sub-regions, the island of Borneo and the Mekong River.
The Mekong River is one of the largest rivers in the world, crossing six countries: China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, which share the natural resources and land surrounding it.
Borneo, the fourth largest island in the world, is divided between Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The island represents only 1% of the world’s land, but holds about 6% of the world’s biodiversity in its tropical forests, which are the habitat of local populations and indigenous peoples who depend on them for their food and clean water supply, notes the official website of the Three Basins Summit.
"Its an opportunity for India to reiterate its stand and contribution in conserving tropical forests and biodiversity ecosystems. MoS is expected to interact with dignitaries attending the Summit," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said as it announced the visit on Thursday (October 27, 2023).
This visit on October 27-28, 2023 is MoS Muraleedharan's first visit to Congo.
IMPORTANCE OF TROPICAL FORESTS
According to the official website of the Summit of the Three Basins, the three global ecosystems account for 80% of the world's tropical forests and two-thirds of the earth's biodiversity, and provide the vital role of world regulator of the carbon balance and life on earth.
The Amazon Basin is the largest tropical forest on the planet and extends across nine countries in South America.
According to information available on the Summit of the Three Basins website:
* Amazon contains 550 million hectares of dense forests, one-third of the remaining tropical rainforests on the planet, with nearly 390 billion trees representing 13% of the world’s trees.
* It is home to 10% of the world’s biodiversity with 40,000 species of plants, 3,000 species of freshwater fish, and over 370 reptiles, in addition to other still unknown and unrecorded species.
On the other hand, the Congo Basin
represents the second largest tropical forest in the world in terms of area, after the Amazon Basin.
This vast forest of 286 million hectares extends over six countries in Central Africa: the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, representing 6% of the world’s forest area.
"It plays a crucial role in the stability of the global climate, with its forest cover and peatlands sequestering the equivalent of 10 years of global CO2 emissions," says the website.
According to information provided on the website, more than 10,000 species of tropical plants and endangered species are found in the region, including 30% endemic, such as forest elephants, plain and mountain gorillas, and okapis. In total, more than 400 species of mammals, 1,000 species of birds, and 700 species of fish are found there.
The Borneo-Mekong-Southeast Asia Basin is the world’s third largest carbon sink and is composed of two sub-regions, the island of Borneo and the Mekong River.
The Mekong River is one of the largest rivers in the world, crossing six countries: China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, which share the natural resources and land surrounding it.
Borneo, the fourth largest island in the world, is divided between Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The island represents only 1% of the world’s land, but holds about 6% of the world’s biodiversity in its tropical forests, which are the habitat of local populations and indigenous peoples who depend on them for their food and clean water supply, notes the official website of the Three Basins Summit.
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