Forest of Congo

Location – covering much of Central Africa, from the Gulf of Guinea to more continental portions in the Albertine Rift mountains, is the second largest rainforest in the world, behind only the Amazon rainforest in South America. It extends by six countries, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, totaling approximately 1,800,000 square kilometers.

Climate – the forest is cut by Ecuador's line, which gives tropical characteristics, being more moist in the coastal portion of the Atlantic and drier in the continental portions. Features – this type of climate in the region is conducive to a great biodiversity – as in the Amazon rainforest – with about of 10 thousand species of plants, 1,000 species of birds and 400 species of mammals. Another important peculiarity of the two forests is the fact of being associated with a large river. In the case of the African Forest, there is the River Congo, the second largest in the world by volume of water and drained area, behind of Amazonas on these two questions. The main representatives of the flora of this forest formation are red cedar, mahogany, oak, kapok and palm trees, in addition to beautiful orchids and lilies.

Fauna -animals in the forest of the Congo populate our imagination when it comes to the African continent: are lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, zebras, leopards, giraffes and other large mammals, especially primates, mainly chimpanzees and gorillas. There are also lizards and chameleons several representing the reptiles, as well as common birds to the Mainland and a myriad of insects.

Current situation – the forest of the Congo is one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world, by economic pressures of the people there inhabiting. Burning carried out with a view to the development of agriculture and the endless civil war experienced by the Congolese ultimately devastate the forest area. Since the end of last century, the forest of the Congo presents the highest rates of deforestation in the world.