Read full story here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/21/headway/peatlands-congo-climate-change.html

DRC. Équateur. Mbandaka. October 2021. Old botanical collections of Belgian scientists, dating back to colonial time, at the Botanical Garden of Mbandaka. Plants that grow in the peatlands Clement Botefa directeur de Jardin biologique holding an old plant, Carapa Procera, which grows in the peatlands.

DRC. Équateur. Mpeka. October 2021. Fresh caught fish in the village Mpeka, at Ruki River. Because of the bordering peatlands the river is very rich in fish. Huge one is called Nina by the locals.

DRC. Équateur. Lokolama. October 2021. Papa Josef Bonkile Engobo, 84, the local chief of Lokolama shows the place where Guy, a wood pecker hired by “Tout va bien” from the neighboring village Penzele, cut down trees illegally from his territory and was threatened by him with his revolver when he confronted Guy.

DRC. Équateur. Mpeka. October 2021. A stick marking the peatlands that Ovide Emba, a scientist and biology student put together with scientist Greta Dargie after discovering peatlands here, close to the village Mpeka.

DRC. Équateur. Lokolama. October 2021. Children play under the Avocado tree in Lokolama.

DRC. Équateur. Mbandaka. October 2021. PEATLANDS-CONGO A monkey on a boat that harbored in Mbandaka.

DRC. Équateur. October 2021. A road floating down the Congo River, direction Kinshasha.

DRC. Équateur. Lokolama. October 2021. Street built by the Belgium colonialists leading trough the village of Lokolama.

DRC. Équateur. October 2021. View over Équateur forest, close to Mbandaka, seen from the plane to Kinshasa.

DRC. Équateur. Lokolama. October 2021. Therèse Bokinga together with her husband Jose Basala Mpia in their bedroom.

DRC. Équateur. Mpeka. October 2021. PEATLANDS-CONGO A village, close to the peatlands, on the way to Mpeka.

DRC. Équateur. Mbandaka. October 2021. Old botanical collections of local fish, set up by Belgian scientists. A left over from colonial time at the Botanical Garden of Mbandaka.

DRC. Équateur. October 2021. Timbers pulled together to a raft, floating down the Congo River towards Kinshasha. The raft of Leonard Baly got stuck on sand and the men are waiting for the water level to rise to be able to continue floating down the river.

DRC. Équateur. Mbandaka. October 2021. Crocodiles being sold in Mbandaka at the market. Wild animals from the jungles are being sold here such as Porcupine and monkeys, crocodiles, turtles and many more.

DRC. Équateur. Penzele. October 2021. Wood chopper Guy in the house where he usually stays when he comes to Penzele.

DRC. Équateur. Lokolama. October 2021. Tantine, Therèse, Marie-Jeanne and Bebeta returning from collecting mushrooms.

DRC. Équateur. Penzele. October 2021. A boy holding Chinese money. Some Chinese gifted money while they were visiting Penzele a few years ago.

^DRC. Équateur. Mbandaka. October 2021. Massive timber on boat of the Lebanese company, Congo future.

DRC. Équateur. Mbandaka. October 2021. Ovide Emba, a scientist and biology student at his home in Mbandaka.

DRC. Équateur. Mpeka. October 2021. Ovide Emba, a scientist and biology student at the peatlands, bordering with Ruki River, close to the village Mpeka.