The Congo Basin forests are a lifeline for more than 60 million people — providing food and income for many remote communities, storing huge amounts of carbon, supporting unique ecosystems and regulating the flow of the major rivers across Central Africa. Yet the Congo’s forests are being cleared at an alarming rate amid global demand for minerals, energy and wood resources from Africa. Research into the issues facing the Congo Basin is more critical than ever.

To learn more, and for more stories from the Congo Basin, visithttp://blog.cifor.org/congo

Copyright permission for music “Chanter” by Sally Nyolo obtained from Skycap Music.