Illegal logging and charcoal trade killing the Congo rainforest

Illegal logging of indigenous trees in Kapchemutwo Forest, Keiyo North, Elgeyo Marakwet County. [Christopher Kipsang, Standard]

Goma region, located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is home to Virunga National Park, one of the remaining biodiversity and natural resources hotspots in the world.

But the park, which is part of the 60 per cent Congo basin rainforest found in DRC and endowed with century-old indigenous trees among other biodiversity, is under attack, courtesy of illegal timber and charcoal trade.