Logging
Commercial logging is an important economic activity in Congo, particularly in the north of the country, and is an important source of employment for many people. However, selective logging brings with it an increase in the direct and indirect threats for wildlife in forestry concessions. For example, road construction associated with selective logging dramatically increases hunter access to isolated sectors of the forest and decreases the cost of transporting bushmeat to urban markets, effectively increasing the profitability of the bushmeat trade.
Many forestry companies are becoming increasingly aware of the negative effects of their activities, and are trying to mitigate the negative impact they have on the environment. One way of doing this is to join internationally recognised forestry certification schemes, which promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests.