New
New
Year 8

The tropical rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo

I can explain the importance of the Congo rainforest and the threats it faces.

New
New
Year 8

The tropical rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo

I can explain the importance of the Congo rainforest and the threats it faces.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Congo is the world's second largest tropical rainforest.
  2. The Congo rainforest is in the Congo Basin, which spans 6 countries.
  3. Over 400 species of mammal live in the Congo, including gorillas and okapi.
  4. 32 billion tonnes of carbon is stored in trees and plants in the Congo rainforest.
  5. Deforestation threatens biodiversity and local communities that depend on the forest.

Keywords

  • Tropical rainforest - areas of dense forest found close to the Equator where it is warm and there are high levels of rainfall

  • Deforestation - the complete removal of trees

  • Carbon sink - anything that absorbs and stores more carbon dioxide than it releases

  • Biodiversity - all the living things in an ecosystem or area

Common misconception

That the Congo rainforest is only found in the DRC.

The Congo rainforest is found in the Congo Basin, which spans six countries in Africa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.


To help you plan your year 8 geography lesson on: The tropical rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Remember that several of the causes of deforestation can happen by legal means or illegally. For example, logging may be done by commercial companies or through illegal activity. Whether legal or illegal, they all contribute to the total deforestation experienced in the DRC each year.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Where is the DRC located?

Northern Africa
Eastern Africa
Correct answer: Central Africa
Southern Africa

Q2.
The DRC is rich in resources like copper, cobalt and diamonds.

Correct Answer: natural

Q3.
What major valley system passes through the eastern part of the DRC?

Amazon Valley
Correct answer: Rift Valley
Sahara Valley

Q4.
Match the term to its description:

Correct Answer:Colony,Country controlled by another country

Country controlled by another country

Correct Answer:Legacy,Something handed down from the past

Something handed down from the past

Correct Answer:Border,Dividing line between countries

Dividing line between countries

Q5.
Which major river flows through the DRC and is a vital natural resource?

Nile
Correct answer: Congo
Amazon
Limpopo

Q6.
A climate is found near the Equator and features high rainfall and hot temperatures year-round.

Correct Answer: tropical, equatorial

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a rainforest?

A cold forest with little rainfall
Correct answer: A dense forest found near the Equator with high rainfall
A dry, desert-like forest
A forest found only in Europe

Q2.
The removal of all trees from an area is called ...

Correct Answer: deforestation

Q3.
What does a carbon sink do?

Creates carbon dioxide
Correct answer: Stores and absorbs carbon dioxide
Destroys trees
Releases more carbon than it absorbs

Q4.
Which of the following is true about the Congo Rainforest?

It is only found in the DRC
Correct answer: It stretches across several Central African countries
It is located only in South America
It covers just small patches of land

Q5.
Why is the rainforest important for biodiversity?

It has no animals
It supports only one type of plant
Correct answer: It provides a home for a huge variety of plants and animals
It is mostly bare land

Q6.
The Congo Rainforest acts as a giant sink, helping to combat climate change.

Correct Answer: carbon