The second largest rainforest in the world sits in the Congo
basin of Africa. About half of this forest, still largely
intact, lies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and
supports more species of birds and mammals than any other
African region. The rainforests are also critical for its human
inhabitants, who depend upon the rainforests to provide
essential food, medicine, and other non-timber products, along
with energy and building materials. The World Bank and other
donors view logging as a way to alleviate poverty and promote
economic development. In reality, expansion of logging into
remaining areas of intact forests in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo will destroy globally critical carbon reserves and
impact biodiversity. Beyond environmental impacts, logging in
the region exacerbates poverty and leads to social conflicts.