Recent scientific studies have revealed that Africa's tropical rainforests play a major role in mitigating climate change.

The forests absorb about 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year, that's more than 5 percent of fossil fuel emissions. The studies also said African countries can benefit financially by keeping their forests. The research stressed the importance of conserving the Congo Basin Rainforest. It makes up nearly a fifth of the world's remaining tropical rainforest, but has been plagued in recent years by deforestation and mining concessions.

(CCTV.com December 12, 2009)