![National Geographic: Congo Rain Forests Under Threat
by Ker Than
A western lowland gorilla orphan named Bangha pauses in the Republic of the Congo’s Tchimpounga Sanctuary.
Second in size only to the Amazon, the Congo rain forest—which extends across six African countries—is disappearing as a result of intense logging activity and farming, specifically for crops such as cassava and oil palm.
“Of all the endangered forest regions we’re talking about, [the Congo Basin] probably has the most challenging state governance anywhere,” Donovan said.
“There is violence in the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and difficult challenges for virtually all the other countries in the region.”
(Read more: “Marijuana Trade Threatens African Gorilla Refuge.”)
(photo: Michael Nichols, National Geo)](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/04/pictures/120420-forests-threatened-environment-earth-day/#/most-threatened-forests-earth-day-congo_51886_600x450.jpg)
National Geographic: Congo Rain Forests Under Threat
by Ker Than
A western lowland gorilla orphan named Bangha pauses in the Republic of the Congo’s Tchimpounga Sanctuary.
Second in size only to the Amazon, the Congo rain forest—which extends across six African countries—is disappearing as a result of intense logging activity and farming, specifically for crops such as cassava and oil palm.
“Of all the endangered forest regions we’re talking about, [the Congo Basin] probably has the most challenging state governance anywhere,” Donovan said.
“There is violence in the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and difficult challenges for virtually all the other countries in the region.”
(Read more: “Marijuana Trade Threatens African Gorilla Refuge.”)
(photo: Michael Nichols, National Geo)
