Rainforests and Congo News

2009 may prove to be an important turning point for tropical forests. Lead by Brazil, which had the lowest extent of deforestation since at least the 1980s, global forest loss…

Chainsaws, bulldozers, and fires are tools of rainforest destruction, but roads are enablers. Roads link markets to resources, enabling loggers, farmers, ranchers, miners, and land speculators to convert remote forests…

Conservationists work with local communities to protect the okapi, and its rainforest habitat, in the aftermath of a brutal civil war.

An 830,000-hectare tract of rainforest in Cameroon has been granted a 30-day reprieve from logging following a 4-week exploratory expedition that turned up large populations of lowland gorillas, forest elephants,…

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced yesterday the discovery of eastern lowland gorilla nests in an unexplored area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), expanding the range of this…

A partnership between local villages and conservation groups, headed up by the Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI), has led to the creation of a new 1,847 square mile (4,875 square kilometer)…

Congo biochar initiative wins critical funding to support poverty alleviation, climate change mitigation An initiative using soil carbon enrichment techniques to boost agricultural yields, alleviate poverty, and protect endangered forests…

The government of Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) has offered 25 million acres (10 million hectares) of land to South African farmers in an effort to improve the central African nation's…

Marc Ona Essangui is a beloved environmental leader in his native Gabon, however by winning the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize he is now being introduced to a larger audience: the…

A new study finds that forest elephants may be responsible for planting more trees in the Congo than any other species or genus. Conducting a thorough survey of seed dispersal…

Largely ignored by scientific community, new theory could change how future generations view forests Two Russian scientists, Victor Gorshkov and Anastassia Makarieva of the St. Petersburg Nuclear Physics, have published…

During 2008 and early 2009, Endangered Species International (ESI) conducted monitoring activities using undercover methods at key markets in the city of Pointe Noire, the second biggest city in Congo.…

Scandinavian country with population 1.5 percent that of the United States is the biggest international funder of rainforest conservation. While citizens in western countries have long paid lip service to…

Update: Missing gorilla rangers return safely in Congo, one dies of cholera in camp Update: Missing gorilla rangers return safely in Congo, one dies of cholera in camp Jeremy Hance,…

39 rangers missing in Virunga Park after headquarters overtaken by rebels 39 rangers missing in Virunga Park after headquarters overtaken by rebels Jeremy Hance, mongabay.com October 30, 2008

Forest elephants learn to avoid roads, behavior may lead to population decline Forest elephants learn to avoid roads, behavior may lead to population decline Jeremy Hance, mongabay.com October 27, 2008…

Gorilla refuge falls into rebel hands in Congo; Park HQ seized Gorilla refuge falls into rebel hands in Congo; Park HQ seized mongabay.com October 26, 2008 Rebels in Democratic Republic…

DR Congo to cancel two-thirds of logging contracts due to corruption DR Congo to cancel two-thirds of logging contracts due to corruption mongabay.com October 8, 2008

Commercial bushmeat trade is devastating wildlife Commercial bushmeat trade is devastating wildlife mongabay.com September 15, 2008 Commercial killing of rainforest wildlife is putting biodiversity at risk and reducing sources of…

Rare okapi photographed for the first time in Congo park Rare okapi photographed for the first time in Congo park mongabay.com September 10, 2008 A camera trap has captured the…

Malaysia targets Africa, the Amazon for oil palm expansion Malaysia targets Africa and the Amazon for palm oil expansion mongabay.com August 25, 2008 Facing land scarcity at home and environmental…

Markets may save rainforests An interview with Dr. Andrew Mitchell of the Global Canopy Program: Markets could save rainforests Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com August 18, 2008 Markets may soon value…

1.2 million ha of Congo rainforest certified for sustainable forestry 1.2 million ha of Congo rainforest certified for sustainable forestry mongabay.com August 6, 2008 More than one million hectares of…

Photos of massive gorilla population discovered in the Congo Massive gorilla population discovered in the Congo mongabay.com August 5, 2008 The world's known population of critically endangered western lowland gorillas…

Logging company Danzer accused of tax fraud in the Congo Logging company Danzer accused of tax fraud in the Congo mongabay.com July 31, 2008 A major European logging company is…