Daniel Beltrá/Greenpeace AfricaA giant slab of carbon-rich peat, discovered in central Africa, is under threat from unregulated development which poses a significant risk for future climate change.
After 10 hours by car, another 10 by river, three hours hacking a path with machetes through undergrowth, and two wading through a swamp, the scientists were ready to begin work.
They built a long, metal, corkscrew-like device and put it into a patch of dark, water-logged earth.
"Get it done." "Get it done." "Get it done." "Get it done." "Get it done." After twisting and pushing the rod further into the ground, the scientists pulled out a half-metre cylinder of black gunk.
Jodrhy Matoko is a PhD student at Marien N'Gouabi University.
Over the last decade, the close-knit team has spent months at a time camping in the remote swamps that border the giantCongo river, watching out for crocodiles, snakes and lowland gorillas, and mapping the shape of a giant slab of carbon-rich peat, which they now believe could
We would like to fill in the blanks on the map. Hard work is what it is. It is an adventure. "I must like it because I've been doing it for 10 years now, so I've been doing it for a long time," said Dr Dargie.
Mr Matoko said he's a forest man. The place is very relaxing. There isn't a lot of stress here.
The scientists took pictures of the peat and sealed them in plastic to send to the university for further analysis.
It's important in the context of climate change. There is a lot of carbon stored here. It is going to accelerate global change if it is released into the atmosphere.
The US emits about 20 years of fossil fuel emissions. I think they should be at the international level. Dr Dargie said that the international community needs to support the government to make sure the peatlands are protected.
Getty ImagesThe forests hold a lot of carbon, but the peatlands hold a lot more. If the peat is allowed to dry out, it can be destroyed in a few weeks.
Climate change, as well as man-made actions like unsustainable farming practices, are some of the main threats to the economy of the region.
Significant oil deposits are possible to be confirmed and exploited close to the peatlands.
There is some uncertainty about the extent and significance of the oil reserves, but the government has begun parcelling out blocks of land.
We cannot be asked to keep our natural resources under wraps. If we need to exploit them, we will do so in a sustainable way and according to environmental rules.
You can't say that these Africans misuse funds. It's time for us to understand that we need to conserve the peatlands. We will have to use our own natural resources if the West doesn't support our work.
There are moves to exploit the resources buried beneath the peatlands.
The land that is to be developed for oil production is going to be auctioned off. Some of the sites are close to the peatlands.
In a recent cabinet meeting, Mr Budimbu told his colleagues that the national oil production needs to be reduced to 25,000 barrels a day.
The minister of the hydrocarbons ministry tagged the French oil firm Total in its social media posts about the upcoming auction in DR Congo's capital, but neither Total nor the minister responded to requests for comment.
The plan will have disastrous consequences if it is not stopped.
It's very important that the DR Congo government and donors stop the oil blocks and talk about renewable energy.
Jordan Elenga went across the river to go through a swamp filled with palm trees.
He saysGently and gently.
He climbed on to the roots of one tree, hacked a deep hole in the side with a machete, and attached a plastic container to catch the palm wine, before moving on to the next tree.
Wine is my main source of money. Mr Elenga says it is how he feeds his family.
Professor Ifo let out a sigh as he watched him.
The trees are killed by this. It's a serious threat to the environment. It could be destroyed in the future.
The professor said that if poverty is not addressed, people will come to the area to make money.
Without the Congo Basin, the rest of the world couldn't breathe. We Africans provide an eco-systemic service for the whole planet"
The administrator of the small town of Ntokou sat in a half-built mansion and acknowledged a "public information vacuum" regarding the peatlands.
We fish and hunt here. If we are to live in harmony with our peatlands, then the big powers need to give us funding.
There is growing frustration in the region with ministers like Ms Soudan-Nonault accusing the West of hypocrisy.
The rest of the world was not able to breathe. Africans provide an eco-systemsic service. It's logical that such a service has a price.
The Amazon has lost its role in regulating the world's climate due to illegal logging. She mentioned the peatlands' ongoing role in capturing CO2 from the atmosphere.
All the promises made by the international community have been unfulfilled. You can't tell us that you need to tighten up. You get richer, and we are hungry.
"We will accept the best offers of support and we won't be able to restrain ourselves indefinitely," said Ms Soudan- Nonault.
One of the world's most corrupt countries has brushed aside complaints that it is trying to blackmail the west into funding projects to support the peatlands.
I don't want to talk like that. We're prepared. An investment plan is in the works. There is no reason why we can't get this funding.
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