The Democratic Republic of Congo has approximately 25% of the world’s remaining rainforests. In contrast to neighbouring countries, very little commercial exploitation has occurred in its 1.3 million square kilometres of forest (an area twice the size of France) as a result of the limited road infrastructure and years of debilitating conflict. However, now relative stability has returned to Congo and with the restoration of democracy, international logging companies are lining up to commercially exploit this valuable resource.  At the same time the international community is now recognising the value to the global climate of preserving the forests and the need to pay countries such as the DRC not to cut them down.  The future of DRC’s forests rest at a critical juncture.  The concern is that the reform agenda both internationally and within the DRC will not be developed in time; nor with sufficient robustness to prevent large scale deforestation.  

Throughout Africa, industrial logging has failed to deliver development benefits for both the state and forest communities.  It threatens to destroy the forests, their rich biodiversity and the communities that live or depend on it for their livelihoods, as well as contributing massively to climate change.  Sustainable industrial logging depends heavily on strong state regulation.  The capacity of the DRC forest administration is minimal and hampered by the widespread culture of corruption which pervades Congolese society.

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