Full scientific report: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Generated 13 November 2026, 01:50 from live Atlas data
Executive summary
Atlas holds 1,223,598 mapped features and 43,448 observations in 81 datasets. The mapped mangrove canopy covers 19,618 ha in 1,520 polygons across 1 formation classes; Mangrove dominates with 100.0% of the area. The median patch is only 0.089 ha, while patches of 10 ha or more hold 96.8% of the area. 0 ha (0.0%) lies within 10 km of the LAPSSET development footprint.
Single mapping epoch (2019). Areas are geodesic hectares recalculated from geometry.
Species & formations
| Formation | Polygons | Area (ha) | Share | Mean patch (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mangrove | 1,520 | 19,618.2 | 100.0% | 12.91 |
Fragmentation & landscape metrics
- Patches
- 1,520
- Mean / median / largest
- 12.91 / 0.089 / 8,292.4 ha
- Effective mesh size
- 4,875.5 ha
- Largest patch index
- 42.3%
- Power-law exponent α
- 1.61
Spatial clustering
Global Moran’s I = 0.116 (z = 1.4, p = 0.168). Hot-spot cells (Gi*, ≥95%): 2; cold-spot cells: 0.
| Top hot-spot cell | Polygons | Area (ha) | Gi* z |
|---|---|---|---|
| -6.05, 12.6 | 14 | 140 | 2.18 |
| -6.05, 12.5 | 33 | 35 | 1.98 |
| -6.05, 12.55 | 49 | 422 | 1.92 |
| -6.05, 12.45 | 7 | 4,794 | 1.69 |
| -6.05, 12.4 | 7 | 1,376 | 1.67 |
| -6, 12.4 | 11 | 2,262 | 1.62 |
Pressure: LAPSSET and villages
Mangrove ha by distance from LAPSSET
Mangrove ha by distance from villages
Data quality
| Dataset | Features | Repaired | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 284 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 456 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 394 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 339 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 318 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1,575 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1,520 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1,280 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1,346 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1,337 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1,794 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2,320 | 0 | 100 |
| Congo Basin | 1 | 0 | 95 |
| Salonga | 1 | 0 | 95 |
| Moderate Pressure | 1 | 0 | 95 |
| High Pressure | 1 | 0 | 95 |
| Bassin_Rutshuru | 1 | 0 | 95 |
| PNVi | 1 | 0 | 95 |
| High Biodiversity Areas | 3 | 2 | 95 |
| RDC_Grande_Rivieres | 5 | 0 | 95 |
| Hippos Sightings_2005 | 6 | 0 | 95 |
| AfricaPriorityLandscapes | 7 | 2 | 95 |
| RDC_Zones_CBNRM | 7 | 0 | 95 |
| Virunga Pressure map | 8 | 4 | 95 |
| RDC_Territoire | 9 | 0 | 95 |
| RDC_Territoire | 9 | 0 | 95 |
| Hippos Sightings_1974 | 9 | 0 | 95 |
| flr_9 | 9 | 0 | 95 |
| Sub_Watersheds | 11 | 5 | 95 |
| Oil_Blocks | 12 | 0 | 95 |
| Ug_Rw_Parks_Reserves | 12 | 1 | 95 |
| FLRi Countries | 13 | 0 | 95 |
| FLRi Countries | 13 | 0 | 95 |
| Chimps Sightings | 19 | 0 | 95 |
| Glaciers_1990 | 20 | 0 | 95 |
| NACOFA Initiatives | 23 | 0 | 95 |
| Planned Major Roads and Rails | 33 | 0 | 95 |
| Development Corridors | 33 | 0 | 95 |
| RDC_Villages | 36 | 0 | 95 |
| Gorille Sightings | 39 | 0 | 95 |
| PA_with_Values | 40 | 0 | 95 |
| Camp_bracconiers | 44 | 0 | 95 |
| Lakes | 62 | 0 | 95 |
| Operational Land/Seascape | 70 | 10 | 95 |
| Operational Land/Seascape | 70 | 10 | 95 |
| Operational Landscape | 79 | 13 | 95 |
| Elephant Sightings | 95 | 0 | 95 |
| Africa_WWF_Priority_202104_Operational_Landscapes_Seascape | 96 | 16 | 95 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | 126 | 0 | 95 |
| Lion Sightings | 198 | 0 | 95 |
| Protected Areas | 210 | 4 | 95 |
| Rivers | 228 | 0 | 95 |
| RDC_Rw | 233 | 0 | 95 |
| ProtectedAreas_AfricaPriorityLandscapes | 492 | 4 | 95 |
| Administration (Level 2) | 495 | 1 | 95 |
| Administration (Level 2) | 495 | 1 | 95 |
| Forest_Concessions | 535 | 11 | 95 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | 642 | 0 | 95 |
| RDC_Routes | 804 | 0 | 95 |
| Ug | 851 | 1 | 95 |
| AfricaPriority_River | 857 | 0 | 95 |
| RDC_Plantations_Ecomakala | 1,184 | 10 | 95 |
| RDC_Rivieres | 1,212 | 0 | 95 |
| Small airport | 1,979 | 0 | 95 |
| Dams | 2,586 | 0 | 95 |
| Ug_Roads | 3,281 | 0 | 95 |
| Districts | 6,099 | 13 | 95 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | 7,438 | 1 | 95 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | 9,759 | 0 | 95 |
| Divisions | 17,649 | 9 | 95 |
| Selected_Species_Oil_Impact | 17,779 | 0 | 95 |
| Irrigated Areas | 23,095 | 1 | 95 |
| Agro-Ecological Zones | 25,791 | 17 | 95 |
| Wetlands -Lakes -Reservoirs | 34,115 | 1 | 95 |
| Waterways | 35,619 | 0 | 95 |
| Carbon projects: Democratic Republic of the Congo | 5 | 0 | 90 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): Democratic Republic of the Congo | 38 | 0 | 90 |
| Roads | 54,384 | 0 | 95 |
| Observation_ICCN | 101,621 | 0 | 95 |
| Settlement | 275,904 | 0 | 95 |
| Road Network | 584,033 | 0 | 95 |
Recommendations
Datasets & sources
| Dataset | Publisher | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 284 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 456 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 394 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 339 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 318 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 1,575 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 1,520 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 1,280 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 1,346 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 1,337 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 1,794 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,320 |
| Congo Basin | WWF Kenya | 1 |
| Salonga | WWF Kenya | 1 |
| Moderate Pressure | WWF Kenya | 1 |
| High Pressure | WWF Kenya | 1 |
| Bassin_Rutshuru | WWF Kenya | 1 |
| PNVi | WWF Kenya | 1 |
| High Biodiversity Areas | WWF Kenya | 3 |
| RDC_Grande_Rivieres | WWF Kenya | 5 |
| Hippos Sightings_2005 | WWF Kenya | 6 |
| AfricaPriorityLandscapes | WWF Kenya | 7 |
| RDC_Zones_CBNRM | WWF Kenya | 7 |
| Virunga Pressure map | WWF Kenya | 8 |
| RDC_Territoire | WWF Kenya | 9 |
| RDC_Territoire | WWF Kenya | 9 |
| Hippos Sightings_1974 | WWF Kenya | 9 |
| flr_9 | WWF Kenya | 9 |
| Sub_Watersheds | WWF Kenya | 11 |
| Oil_Blocks | WWF Kenya | 12 |
| Ug_Rw_Parks_Reserves | WWF Kenya | 12 |
| FLRi Countries | WWF Kenya | 13 |
| FLRi Countries | WWF Kenya | 13 |
| Chimps Sightings | WWF Kenya | 19 |
| Glaciers_1990 | WWF Kenya | 20 |
| NACOFA Initiatives | WWF Kenya | 23 |
| Planned Major Roads and Rails | WWF Kenya | 33 |
| Development Corridors | WWF Kenya | 33 |
| RDC_Villages | WWF Kenya | 36 |
| Gorille Sightings | WWF Kenya | 39 |
| PA_with_Values | WWF Kenya | 40 |
| Camp_bracconiers | WWF Kenya | 44 |
| Lakes | WWF Kenya | 62 |
| Operational Land/Seascape | WWF Kenya | 70 |
| Operational Land/Seascape | WWF Kenya | 70 |
| Operational Landscape | WWF Kenya | 79 |
| Elephant Sightings | WWF Kenya | 95 |
| Africa_WWF_Priority_202104_Operational_Landscapes_Seascape | WWF Kenya | 96 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | WWF Kenya | 126 |
| Lion Sightings | WWF Kenya | 198 |
| Protected Areas | WWF Kenya | 210 |
| Rivers | WWF Kenya | 228 |
| RDC_Rw | WWF Kenya | 233 |
| ProtectedAreas_AfricaPriorityLandscapes | WWF Kenya | 492 |
| Administration (Level 2) | WWF Kenya | 495 |
| Administration (Level 2) | WWF Kenya | 495 |
| Forest_Concessions | WWF Kenya | 535 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | WWF Kenya | 642 |
| RDC_Routes | WWF Kenya | 804 |
| Ug | WWF Kenya | 851 |
| AfricaPriority_River | WWF Kenya | 857 |
| RDC_Plantations_Ecomakala | WWF Kenya | 1,184 |
| RDC_Rivieres | WWF Kenya | 1,212 |
| Small airport | WWF Kenya | 1,979 |
| Dams | WWF Kenya | 2,586 |
| Ug_Roads | WWF Kenya | 3,281 |
| Districts | WWF Kenya | 6,099 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | WWF Kenya | 7,438 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | WWF Kenya | 9,759 |
| Divisions | WWF Kenya | 17,649 |
| Selected_Species_Oil_Impact | WWF Kenya | 17,779 |
| Irrigated Areas | WWF Kenya | 23,095 |
| Agro-Ecological Zones | WWF Kenya | 25,791 |
| Wetlands -Lakes -Reservoirs | WWF Kenya | 34,115 |
| Waterways | WWF Kenya | 35,619 |
| Carbon projects: Democratic Republic of the Congo | Berkeley Carbon Trading Project, University of California, Berkeley | 5 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): Democratic Republic of the Congo | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | 38 |
| Roads | WWF Kenya | 54,384 |
| Observation_ICCN | WWF Kenya | 101,621 |
| Settlement | WWF Kenya | 275,904 |
| Road Network | WWF Kenya | 584,033 |