A colossal 40 million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo depend on the Congo Basin Forest for their livelihoods. At 500 million acres, the forest is the world’s second-largest tropical forest and teeming with life.
But as government thought turns to lifting the ban on new logging permits, the expansion of industrial logging poses a great threat to the lives and wellbeing of local residents.
We at TRUEAfrica heard from Greenpeace volunteer Ngumfor Abinwi Ngwa about the work that’s being done to protect the Congo Basin. This is the story he shared with us:
A year ago, I saw a fully loaded truck of timber while I was travelling to Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon. These trucks are common in Douala and I should be used to seeing them, but as I watched this truck drive by I couldn’t stop thinking about the story of these trees and where they came from.
[Above: industrial logging activity in the port of Matadi; below: scientific research on tropical peatland in the Democratic Republic of Congo]
Their story began in the Congo Basin forest. Often referred to as the lungs of Africa, it’s the second largest rainforest in the world and where scientists recently discovered the world’s largest tropical peatland – an ecosystem that helps keep our world cool.
Instead of lamenting in despair, I was inspired to do more, to get involved and to do something to save the forest.
This means we should be doing everything we can to keep the Congo Basin forest intact and yet everyday truck after truck was carrying trees out of the forest.
This made me realise I needed to do something. So instead of lamenting in despair, I was inspired to do more, to get involved and to do something to save the forest.
[Above: scientists at work on tropical peatland in the Democratic Republic of Congo]
Then an opportunity of a lifetime came my way. For the first time, the Esperanza, the largest ship of the Greenpeace fleet arrived at the port of Douala on the 13 of October 2017.
Many volunteers alongside the the chief of the Sawa community and other visitors were present to welcome her and the message she brought, a message to ‘Give the Congo Basin Forest a Chance’.
[Above: ‘Give the Congo Basin Forest a Chance’ banner in Matadi]
I was among four Greenpeace Africa volunteers, who were given the opportunity to join the Esperanza’s journey.
We toured the coast of Central Africa, mobilising communities, talking with political leaders, engaging civil society with one central message ‘Give the Congo Basin forest a chance’. In four weeks, we made stops in Cameroon, The Democratic Republic of Congo and The Republic of Congo.
[Above: children from the village of Lokolama]
As the tour ended my heart still ached for parts of forest we have already lost but I was hopeful and motivated by the enthusiasm of all who came to the ship to add their voices to the call.
This forest is a source of life and it deserves a chance […] for our generation and future generations to have the opportunity to know it.
Trees contribute to the quality of air we breathe, they absorb the pollution we create, they provide shelter and livelihoods to millions of people and homes to millions more animals and plants – in short our very existence depends on them and we need to ensure their protection.
This forest is a source of life and it deserves a chance to keep existing, a chance to thrive and a chance for our generation and future generations to have the opportunity to know it.
[Above: children from the village of Lokolama play in the street]
The ship tour may have ended but the journey to protect our forest is still going on and and we need to come together make our voices heard.
Protect the forest and the people it sustains; sign the petition: http://bit.ly/2B5V5W