UNRAVELING the MYSTERIES of the CONGO

For decades, one of the world’s biggest rainforests was largely invisible to climate science. Now a new band of researchers raised in Central Africa is changing that. And what they’re discovering there is revolutionizing our understanding of how to protect the planet.

MÉLANIE GOUBY

WITHIN the DENSE CANOPY of the CONGO BASIN RAINFOREST, the afternoon light began to fade, glinting off a soaring metal tower that rose steeply out of the jungle. Measuring 180 feet tall, the narrow steel structure resembled a massive cellular-network antenna, although it was outfitted with a collection of far more critical scientific sensors. The wind had picked up, causing the spire to sway and whine with each strong gust. But a biologist named Fabrice Kimbesa appeared undaunted. After strapping into a safety harness, he grabbed hold of a thin metal ladder and clambered briskly upward, leaving me to catch up as he raced toward a small platform at the very top. This particular structure is what’s known as an eddy covariance flux tower. When it came online in October…

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National Geographic (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2025

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