Lake Okeechobee hosts different types of flora like bulrush, eelgrass, hydrilla, and peppergrass. Some common species of fish that are found in the Lake include bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, Okeechobee catfish, and speckled perch.

The Ramsar sites in DRC play a vital role in the conservation of rare and endangered flora and fauna of the region. These are some of the last remaining sites in the country where human intervention and exploitation of natural resources are not allowed. However, years of civil war and political unrest in the country has adversely affected these natural habitats in the country and flora, and fauna in the region have been subjected to illegal human activities. International attention is thus necessary to protect these vulnerable habitats in DRC.

Another important Ramsar Wetland of International Importance is the Virunga National Park in DRC. Formerly known as the Albert National Park, Virunga is a 7,800 square km that stretches from the Rwenzori Mountains in the north to the Virunga Mountains in the south. Established in 1925, the Virunga was the first national park in the entire continent. In 1979, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Virunga National Parks hosts exceptional biodiversity including birds, reptiles, and mammals. Okapis, giraffes, gorillas, forest elephants, chimpanzees, and a wide variety of endemic birds constitute the fauna of this national park.

Also known as the Muanda Marine Reserve or the Marc Marine, the Mangroves National Park is a Ramsar wetland and protected area in the DRC. It is well-known for its mangrove forests which provide a safe haven to the endangered manatee population that resides at the mouth of the River Congo. Though mangroves are also found in South Asia, the ones in DRC are a distinct type. The Mangroves National Park was established in 1992 to protect this unique habitat, its flora, and fauna. Besides the manatees, crocodiles, snakes, hippos, bushbuck, reedbuck, and other animal species also inhabit the park.

Tumba-Ngiri-Maindombe, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance is the largest one of its kind in the world. The wetland encompasses an area of 65,696 square km surrounding the Lake Tumba on the western side of the Congo Basin. The size of the wetland is about twice the size of Maryland and Belgium. The landscape of the area includes vast stretches of forests, marshland, and seasonal lakes of great ecological and economic value. However, the Tumba-Ngiri-Maindombe wetland is today under significant threat due to corrupt governance in the area and pressures from the rapidly growing population and illegal activities.

The Sahara Desert spans approximately 9.2 million square kilometers and is in fact the largest hot desert in the world. Located in North Africa, it covers parts of eleven countries, including Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, Algeria, and Tunisia. This expanse of arid land is characterized by its often harsh climate, with massive temperature swings that can soar above 50 degrees Celsius during the day and plummet below freezing at night.

The Sahara is built up of a diverse amount of geographic landscapes, comprising mainly of sand dunes, gravel plains, rocky plateaus, and even some mountain ranges, such as the Ahaggar (with peaks rising above 9,500 feet) and Tibesti ranges (containing Mount Emi Koussi, a peak that rises a lofty 11,204 feet). Its iconic sand dunes, particularly in Algeria and Libya, can reach heights of up to 180 meters!

Human settlement in the Sahara Desert is limited but historically significant. Nomadic tribes, such as the Tuareg and Berbers, have traveled this desert for centuries, passing through it mainly for trade while other groups of people wouldn't dare try (understandably). There are some oases, providing vital water sources, that serve as hubs for small to medium-sized towns and cities, like Ghardaia in Algeria and Timbuktu in Mali, the latter being a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The short answer is yes. But, how do we know this? A number of studies, including one that spanned 93 years by researchers at the University of Maryland, have concluded that the sands of the Sahara have been expanding for some time, primarily southward into the Sahel region. Having grown an estimated 10% since 1920, this is an undeniable fact that continues to be demonstrated year after year, with expansion often at its fastest during the summer months when the already dry desert becomes even more absent of water.

The growth of the Sahara Desert is mainly driven by natural climate variability and human-induced climate change. Naturally, a process called the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), a periodic climate cycle in the North Atlantic Ocean, significantly influences this expansion by affecting regional rainfall patterns. In the case of the Sahara, during warm phases of the AMO, this region experiences drier conditions, causing the desert landscape to spread.