Since 2020, a partnership among UGENT, RMCA, INERA, and UNIKIS has developed the CongoFlux research site in Yangambi, DR Congo. This site focuses on gathering data about the Congo Basin's tropical forest. Key to this research is an eddy covariance flux tower that has collected four years of data on how this ecosystem exchanges carbon. In 2025, a second tower was added to compare water fluxes between a tropical forest and a cassava field.

We also installed sensors to measure soil moisture differences and have set up chambers to measure greenhouse gas emissions from soil and trees. Our research includes various plots for tracking plant productivity and a nutrient addition experiment to study how different nutrients affect forest growth.

The flux tower measures air pollution levels and collects important data on climate and ecology. This project generates valuable information on climate change, pollution, and land use, which will aid in developing remote sensing tools. CongoFlux is a leading research site in Central Africa, and we look forward to collaborating with other organizations to expand similar studies in the region's tropical forests.