Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
forest by hunting and clearing land. In some national parks and reserves, staff were
threatened or killed, and endangered animals were hunted illegally by warring
rebel groups.
Trade in bushmeat is becoming a larger threat, as exploited agricultural lands
are no longer able to produce an economical source of protein. Meat from rainfor-
est animals is the primary source of protein for people in villages as well as some
cities. The ability of hunters to access the forest is improved by logging roads.
Bushmeat hunting is expected to increase as commercial logging expands in the
Congo Basin.
As noted earlier, the Ebola virus is killing humans and thousands of gorillas in
Central Africa. At least 5,500 gorillas have died from Ebola. This is a greater threat
than illegal hunting. Gorillas suffer a 95 percent mortality rate, and chimpanzees
have a 77 percent mortality rate. Researchers estimate that Ebola outbreaks over the
past 12 years may have killed 25 percent of the world's gorilla population. Efforts to
vaccinate gorilla populations are contemplated, but the cost is seen to be prohibitive.
Some hope remains for African rainforests as more countries realize the treas-
ure in their homeland and take steps to conserve the forest and protect its biodiver-
sity. Gabon is working to establish large conservation areas to protect 10 percent of
the country. The Republic of Congo created two new protected areas spanning
nearly 3,800 mi
2
(1 million ha). Other countries have set aside remaining intact
rainforest as national parks and reserves.
Many international environmental organizations abroad, as well as those in
Africa, are working diligently to assist in the protection of Africa's last remaining
rainforests. In 2007, the World Bank launched a pilot project to avoid deforestation
by paying tropical countries to preserve their forests. The $250 million fund will
reward countries with tropical rainforest for maintaining their forest to offset green-
house gas emissions. Tropical deforestation accounts for roughly 20 percent of
global greenhouse gas emissions, while an intact rain forest actually absorbs and
stores carbon dioxide. Slowing deforestation may be a cost-effective way to slow
climate change as well as preserve rainforests and biodiversity.
The African rainforest is essential in maintaining worldwide biodiversity.
Although it has been the subject of much research for many decades, there is still
more to learn about the forest and its inhabitants. New discoveries are made and new
species are identified with each new in-depth study. Stable governments and efforts
to promote sustainable development, sustainable forestry, and ecotourism—and to
revalue the ecosystem services provided by the forest to Africa and the world—will
support current and future conservation in the tropical rainforests of Africa.
The Asian-Pacific Rainforest
The Asian-Pacific expression of the Tropical Rainforest Biome includes 25 percent
of the world's total rainforests. The region is also called the Indo-Malayan or
