The threats are familiar ones: illegal hunting for food (bushmeat), poaching, logging, mining and fossil fuel extraction, along with the expansion of roads and human settlement. Understanding these species not only deepens our connection to them but also strengthens the call to protect one of Earth’s last great forest strongholds.
The rainforests of Central Africa, a vital carbon sink, span the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo. This Ghosts of the Forest project follows iconic species in the Congo Basin, such as the elusive forest elephants, bongo, African gray parrots, and forest buffalo. The project also recognizes the critical conservation role of ethnic groups in the Congo Basin, such as the BaAka and BaKa, given their in-depth knowledge of the ecosystem.
