Biodiversity
The wildlife, plants and humans that are found in the forests of the Congo Basin have lived in delicate equilibrium for tens of thousands of years. The forest has long been a source of food and shelter for hunter-gatherer societies, who have been hunting duikers, bush pigs, monkeys and other mammals for many generations. Animal products, such as horns, feathers and bones also play an important role in cultural and religious ceremonies.
The forests of Congo are home to more than 400 mammal species, 1,000 bird species and nearly 10,000 plant species, of which 3,000 are endemic. However, as humans populations and industrial exploitation of natural resources expands, access routes are established in formerly remote areas, and urban societies advance further and further into the forest. Many of the large mammals which are found in the region, such as forest elephants, western gorillas and chimpanzees, are now endangered.