Ecological Property of Democratic Republic of Congo

Running Lead : THE ECOLOGICAL PROPERTY OF CONGO

The Ecological Property of the Democratic Republic of Congo The Democratic Republic of Congo is better known for its civil wars between Congolese government and warring rebel parties that resulted to human rights atrocities (Human Rights Watch , 2003 . However , there is another aspect of Congo that is seldom spoken of . Worse , this aspect is rarely given priority . Beyond the civil strife is the abundance of biodiversity that is rapidly dwindling away unless more attention is given to the situation

Congo is home to 6000

different plant species , 210 species of mammals 130 species of birds , 149 species of reptiles , 51 species of amphibians and 79 species of fishes . From among these , 53 are either threatened or endangered (Earthtrends , 2002

Despite its relatively small geographic size - approximately 2 million square kilometers , about a fourth of the size of the US (CIA Factbook 2007 ) - it has 7 different types of ecosystems . Its b with Cameroon is marked by montane forest . Beyond the montane forest is the lowland forest . About fifty-nine percent of the the number is rapidly decreasing . The mighty Congo River boasts of lush river vegetation and diverse aquatic life forms . By the Congo River Basin is the Green Abyss , a dense rainforest region . This is the second largest rainforest in the world after the Amazon . Bongos or the endemic antelopes , and African buffalos dominate the savannas of Congo There are also swampy areas in sporadic locations that houses endemic plant and animal species . Surprisingly , Congo has existing ecosystem in the ice caps of the Ruwenzori Mountains (World Conservation Society 2005 . Congo truly has an amazing biodiversity

For all the abundance of life in Congo , all these life forms are invariably interrelated with each other . A change in number of one specie , or worse , an extinction of a specie , will ultimately lead to a disruption of the ecosystem

The Congo River drains from the watersheds of the dense rainforests of Congo and the other nearby countries . The swamps regulate the flow of water from the watershed to the river . Fallen swamp vegetations that were swept to the river become habitats to the fishes in the river These fishes are prey to the mammals and amphibians that roam the fringes of the river . During wet season , when the swamps and the river overflow , some of these animals relocate to the forests and come back down again at the end of the season (Shumway , 2003 . Thus , the cycle of life in Congo

This ecosystem is very fragile especially with the intrusions of humans . Some 20 years ago , the first foreign logging company set up camp in Congo . This marked the voracious cutting down of large timber for export . Traditional forest dwellers such as gorillas and chimpanzees to lost their homes and were pushed further back into the dwindling forest (CARPE , 2001

Poverty and overpopulation has increased the demand for food such as fish and brought about changes in traditional fishing . Fisherfolks started to use poisons...