Human Landscape
Fauna in the Bateke Plateau is highly endangered by commercial hunting (in particular large mammals) to supply urban markets both in Congo and Gabon.
Mechanized agriculture severely threatens the Lefini Reserve and much of the natural flora and fauna of the Bateke Plateau in areas in Congo that are within 100 km of Brazzaville. Slash and burn agriculture in forest islands to the east and north of the Lefini Reserve has significantly reduced the surface area of these forests in recent times. This is primarily due to the fact that road transport was significantly upgraded to Brazzaville in 1996.
Where there are access roads to the Bateke plateau harvesting for firewood and 'artisanal' logging threaten forest and gallery forest habitat. Typically an individual will purchase a chainsaw and other accessories and hire a team to cut valuable trees. The wood is transformed at the cut location, and then transported to the nearest road and on to Brazzaville or Kinshasa.