Location: The Congo is in Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon. Closed forests both in the south and the north.
The Resource: Congo is second only to Zaire (the Democratic Republic of Congo) in terms of tropical rainforest coverage among African countries. Congo is made up 57% rainforest cover.
Cause of Problem: "The most troubling point is that the new logging is not concentrated in the southern region, which is easily accessible and has long been exploited, but new areas of untouched forest in the northern region. The largest firm is German-owned Congolese Wood Industries which has lead the devastating invasion in a shroud of secrecy. The Congo government is keeping quiet about these latest logging activities." - Rhett A. Butler
Other Envirnmental Issues: "air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation." - CIA
Rhett A. Butler's Assessment : "Congo's forests are now threatened by logging, colonization of forest lands, and poaching/overexploitation of animal species. Commercial logging has accelerated up since the government gave up its control over the timber industry to private interests. The most troubling point is that the new logging is not concentrated in the southern region, which is easily accessible and has long been exploited, but new areas of untouched forest in the northern region." Read More
