Protect the rainforest of the Congo

The Congo rainforests of central Africa are a natural wonder we can not afford to lose. After the Amazon, it is the second largest rainforest on Earth and a major biodiversity hotspot with species such as gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos. Millions of people also depend on the rainforest for their survival and like all large forests, it is crucially important for regulating the local and global climate.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this natural wonder is under threat. International logging companies are causing social chaos and wreaking environmental havoc. The World Bank, by far the largest donor to the DRC, is failing to stop this destruction while the rainforest is being sold off under the illusion that it will alleviate poverty in one of the poorest countries on Earth.

Our investigations have shown that taxes paid by the logging companies, which are supposed to fund essential services like schools and hospitals, are not filtering back to local communities. Furthermore, the logging companies are entering into agreements directly with local people who, in return for timber worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, are receiving gifts of beer, salt and sugar which can be worth no more than $100.

Take Action>> Tell Treasury Secretary Paulson to use his influence with the World Bank to ensure there is a real future for the rainforest, with proper safeguards put in place to protect it.

Step 2: Read the letter we've provided. Feel free to edit it.

Dear Secretary Paulson,

I am writing to urge you to use your influence as a Governor of the World Bank to help protect the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Part of the second largest rainforest on the planet, the rainforest of DRC plays a critical role in regulating the global climate and is an essential resource for the millions of the country’s people. The forest is also critical for biodiversity.

In the coming few months the future of 52 million acres of rainforest will be decided in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The logging industry in the DRC is out of control. It causes social conflict and contributes to biodiversity loss as new roads open up previously intact forest areas. The carve up of the country’s forests by loggers is driving deforestation that in turn contributes to climate change.

Logging is not contributing to poverty alleviation; it is simply reinforcing poor governance as revenue intended for local communities disappears before it reaches them.

The World Bank, as the major funder to the DRC, is in a unique position to influence the country’s development. The Bank must therefore work with the Government to ensure that the logging industry is contained and controlled. As the largest donor to the World Bank, the United States government has a very important role to play in making sure proper safeguards are put in place to protect the DRC’s rainforests.

I urge you to use your influence at the World Bank to insist on the cancellation of all logging titles issued since May 2002 and to work to enforce and extend the moratorium on the allocation of new forest titles until proper land use planning is in place.

Intact tropical rainforests are one of our first line defenses against climate change, and international donors must urgently develop a permanent financing regime for forest conservation, both for the sake of climate protection and biodiversity conservation. Such a regime, if well managed, could be crucial in providing important resources for poverty alleviation in the DRC.

I hope you will take this opportunity to ensure there is a real future for the rainforest of the DRC supporting its people, biodiversity and the global environment. I look forward to hearing from you on this issue in the near future.

"Sincerely," and your name and contact information will be added to the end of the letter.

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