What you can do for the forests of the Congo Basin
Starting at home
For most of us, the tropical rainforests of the Congo River basin are a remote and inaccessible place.
The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to go there to help protect the home of forest elephants, pygmy chimpanzees and countless other species – you can start right at home.
Let’s begin with trees...
Buy furniture for your home responsibly so that endangered species get to keep theirs
Interested in buying tropical wood products? Then consider this story. Abachi, used in many saunas, comes from West and Central Africa. Illegal harvesting has reached dramatic levels, which poses a major concern for the forest elephants that live there.At the beginning of the 20th century there were still 3-5 million elephants in Africa, but today the number of forest elephants has greatly diminished. Deforestation and hunting are to blame.
There is no reason why your need for new furniture should raze the Congo Basin’s forests.
So why not try this: find timber products that are guaranteed to respond to strict environmental and social standards.
Where to find these products? Try here:
Help us take our conservation work further
Just 1 click away, our secure online payment system makes it possible for you to support directly WWF's work globally.If you wish to specifically support WWF's work in the Congo Basin forests, please contact Mr Peter Ngea, WWF Central Africa Regional Programme Office (CARPO) in Cameroon.
Stuffed species from the Congo Basin? No thanks
Many of us a have a weak spot for animals and plants - especially if we can take them home with us.However, this behaviour poses major risks for the survival of several species - in the Congo Basin as elsewhere.
If you are fortunate enough to travel to the Congo Basin area, you can support conservation by asking questions and learning the facts before you buy any wildlife or plant product.
In many cases, wildlife and wildlife products can be legally offered for sale in popular tourist locations, but bringing these purchases home can often be illegal or require special permits. This guide is designed to help tourists buy wisely and, therefore, avoid contributing to illegal or detrimental trade in wildlife.
Check the guide on the TRAFFIC website
