WCS-Congo > Conservation Challenges > Bushmeat

Commercial hunting is the principal threat to wildlife in many parts of the Congo forest. Wildlife populations in commercial forestry concessions are coming under increasing pressure as the concessions are exploited for timber and access roads are opened for wood extraction.

For example, the area to the north of the NNNP lacked roads until 1996. During the past decade, a road network has been created in all of the concessions north and east of the NNNP, resulting in an increase in commercial bushmeat hunting, which is threatening the wildlife of the northern border of the NNNP. Hunting in and around forest clearings is a particular threat to endangered species such as elephants, as it discourages use of this critical habitat type.

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