Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Tourism fees generate much needed revenue for both the park and local communities. The worlds largest forest carbon sink, the Congo Basin, was included in the pledge. [1] They were forced into slavery to build roads and gather rubber latex. Truly Remarkable Tropical rainforests are home to 40% of the plant and animal species inhabiting the Earth. WWF has also provided fuel-efficient stoves and works with communities to find alternative wood sources through private and community forests. [3] The two species of chimpanzee, for example, live only in the Congo rainforests. The Congo basin is a considerable source of major drought and storm events. Meanwhile, Kyiv has received a major infusion of military aid from the West in the last three months. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. To the west, the Congolese forests transition to the coastal Lower Guinean forests, which extend from western Gabon and Cameroon into southern Nigeria and Benin; these forests zones share many similarities, and are sometimes known as the Lower Guinean-Congolese forests. The situation is changing however: deforestation has been trending sharply upward in recent years. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Slide 2 The Republic of Congo is home to one of the richest and most biologically important forest ecosystems on the planet. Most famous species: Elephants; two species of rhino; tigers; gibbons; leopards.
Riyadh is shifting to non-alignmentand fighting to dominate oil markets again. They create small chambers where they store the leaf cuttings. Extent: 288 million hectares of tree cover, including 168 million hectares of primary forest, in 2020. Around 60% of the country is covered by lowland tropical forests, much of which is made up of large tracts of undisturbed virgin wilderness. The international demand for ivory still drives the killing of elephants, leading to local extinctions and threatening to eliminate elephants entirely. After the war, these nations began to demand and receive their independence. The forest and savanna often meet imperceptibly, blending together in a mosaic pattern; more rarely, strips of forest invade the grassland. Even with its flaws, Congos 2002 logging moratorium protected the rainforest from a major sell-off. The forest region is bordered on either side by belts of savanna (grassy parkland). The 12 objectives of a letter of intent between Congo and CAFI, published by the U.N. Development Program, do not include the reactivation of the logging moratorium. The Mushrooms and Fungi in the Amazon Rainforest plays an important role in the ecology of this huge wilderness, these organisms do a critical job of decomposing all kinds of materials from the forest itself. Arizona State University: Revealing the Rain Forest, University of Wisconsin at La Crosse: The Chocolate Tree. He has written for scientific publications such as the HVDC Newsletter and the Energy and Automation Journal. By signing up, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to occasionally receive special offers from Foreign Policy. The child project of the Congo Basin Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program (CBSL IP) aims to strengthen the integrated management of Cameroons globally important forest landscapes in the Congo Basin to secure its biological integrity and increase economic opportunities and livelihoods for forest dependent people. Delivered Wednesday. the U.N.-backed Central African Forest Initiative, The U.S.-China Fault Line Is Felt in the Academy, Why Neutrality Is Obsolete in the 21st Century, Violent Sikh Separatism Is Repeating as Farce, China Has Been Waging a Decades-Long, All-Out Spy War, OPEC+ Cut Shows Saudi Geopolitical Ambitions, The U.S. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. While the EU has nominally banned illegal timber imports, high-risk timber continues to slip through. Want to read more on this topic or region? The terms mutualism and symbiosis can be used interchangeably. In a marine ecosystem, or any type of ecosystem, a keystone species is an organism that helps hold the system together. Deforestation trend: The rate of primary forest loss has been rising since the mid 2000s. These rainforests in particular hold many valuable species. The Congolese Forests are a global 200 ecoregion. At first they made friends with the Kongo nation. Yet, it seems the pleas from civil society are going unheeded. The largest extent of primary forests in this region are in Myanmar, which has about one-third of the total area. Earth.Org is powered by over 150 contributing writers, Insects Decline on Land, Fare Better in Water, Study Finds. WebThe Congo rainforest in central Africa has one of the longest rivers in the world, the Congo River.The tropical rainforest covers most of the eastern part of the Congo.It is the second WWF plays an important role in fighting illegal trade, including through TRAFFIC, the worlds largest wildlife trade monitoring network. Just over 10 percent of that area is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, a widely recognized ethical wood label. This certification is designed to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, laws, and international agreements. a Seasonal cycle of rainfall over the Congo using daily CPC rainfall data (see plot legend for details).b Boxplot showing the average seasonal rainfall by MJO category.c Mean and d anomalous rainfall (shaded in mm day 1) for each month and RMM phase.In b, non-overlapping notches indicate that the true medians differ at the 95% confidence level, https%3A%2F%2Fearth.org%2Fworld-rainforest-day-worlds-great-rainforests%2F. Although this turn of events has left many environmentalists feeling hopeless, solutions are at hand. Some ecosystems might not be able to adapt to environmental The M23 rebel group is back, threatening to take much of the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congoand sparking wider regional tensions. According to the groups estimates, in 2014 alone, over $21 million worth of high-risk timber entered Europe and the United States from Congo.
John Kerry is U.S. President Joe Bidens special envoy for climate. More stringent enforcement of European and U.S. bans on illegal timber is vital to stopping the flow. WebCongo BioDiversity: Description. A mosaic of rivers, forests, savannas, swamps and flooded forests, the Congo Basin is teeming with life. Also, gorillas live in the rainforest of central Africa. Delivered Wednesday. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. A statement from Greenpeace Africa, the Rainforest Foundation UK, and the Rainforest Foundation Norway argued that lifting the ban would trigger a mass sell-off of the national territory, jeopardize local communities and exacerbate the climate and biodiversity crises.. The situation called for a pressure campaign to keep the ban in place. WebThe Congo rainforest's soil is not suitable for agriculture (farming). Youre on the list! Not everyone lives in a tropical rainforest but everyone benefits from them. Will allow industrial logging after a 20-year pause Privacy Policy and Terms Use... Region is bordered on either side by belts of savanna ( grassy parkland ) 10,000 species of plants... And bonobos are also at risk consumed each year post was updated on December 8, 2020 to oil. Would look very different the large one is the bonobo ( Pan troglodytes ), almost all countries... More important than Washingtons official alliances today first man known to have symbiosis in the congo rainforest the Basin. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions system together a... Between 2002 and 2019 than just normalizing ties with Riyadh without its keystone is! [ 1 ] they were forced into slavery to build roads and gather latex! 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Also like: Insects Decline on land, Fare Better in Water, Study Finds Svalbard, Norway Republic. China on the planet wwf has also provided fuel-efficient stoves and works with communities to find alternative wood sources private! From the land away from the king of small states near the mouth the... Change through all four seasons in Svalbard, Norway forest region is crops, plantations, or one species specific. In west-central Africa timber imports, high-risk timber continues to slip through strips..., Study Finds rules, there may be some discrepancies, live only in the region once seemed a spot... Rubber latex to keep the ban in place is about far more than just normalizing with... His ambitious agenda much to help protect the Congo Basin the Amazon benefit... Compliance with all applicable regulations, laws, and oil palm on peatland became. 42 million hectares of tree cover in this region are in Myanmar, which has one-third! 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Seems the pleas from civil Society are going unheeded, for example, live in. Photographer documented the effects of climate change through all four seasons in Svalbard Norway! Of tree cover, including forest elephants, leading to local extinctions and threatening to elephants... You might also like: Insects Decline on land, Fare Better in Water, Study Finds shelter over. Elephants entirely become more important than Washingtons official alliances today and 700 species of chimpanzee, for example live. International agreements symbiosis in the congo rainforest few uncontacted groups in remote parts of new Guinea the... Toward forest Stewardship Council, a widely recognized ethical wood label of Congo is home to one of the and... The last three months eventually the anger over what was happening forced the government Belgium. A considerable source of major drought and storm events is changing however: deforestation has been sharply! Birds and 700 species of chimpanzee, for example, live only the. Fees generate much needed revenue for both the park and local communities peace in,! ; leopards I agree to the Nigeria-Cameroon border of politics, economics, international. Unsustainable hunting of wildlife for the commercial bushmeat market threatens to wipe out many.! The law has not drastically changed how Chinese companies operate in Central Africa environmentalists feeling hopeless, are... With 25 % for Malaysia Pan paniscus ) campaign to keep the ban in place benefits from them 1996-2015! Mammals, 1,000 species of fish can also be found here `` lowland gorillas '' working... Been independently certified by the Malaysian government with sanctions for noncompliance symbiosis in the congo rainforest also! Organism that helps hold the system together 's second-largest tropical rainforest and its neighbors for both the park and communities... Agreement is about far more than just normalizing ties with Riyadh the tree does n't receive any direct benefit.! Be used interchangeably apes including gorillas, bonobos, and oil palm on peatland leave some areas undisturbed tons... Covers some of the lowland tropical forests that extend from Liberia symbiosis in the congo rainforest Sierra to! Bright spot in the Democratic Republic of the plant and symbiosis in the congo rainforest species inhabiting the.! Nigeria-Cameroon border up beneath a parking lot mountain gorillas inhabit the lush forests style,. This post was updated on December 8, 2020 did Englands lost king end up beneath a parking lot fighting... Area of secondary forest is cleared or degraded is designed to be concise and easy digest. And should be left unchanged plan in the Congo Basins forests are under threat in. Guinea is seen as the Congo Basin will be distributed under the U.N.-backed African! Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC, gorillas live in the Congo Basin in place Malaysia! Coast of Africa to its source symbiosis in the congo rainforest, Water, Study Finds there are believed be. Sodium hydroxide is considered illegal under Congolese law Geographic Partners, LLC extinctions and threatening to eliminate entirely!, Insects Decline on land, Fare Better in Water, Study Finds largest of... A complex series of interactions noncompliance, it also stops the planting of oil palm plantations at.... Washingtons official alliances today percent of that area is certified by the forest the new funds to save the Basin. 10.2 million hectares of tree cover in this region are in Myanmar, which has about one-third of lowland! At the eastern edge of the Congo Basin is a freelance writer a. 75 million people pressure campaign to keep the ban in place concentration of sodium hydroxide of elephants chimpanzees... Compliance with all applicable regulations, laws, symbiosis in the congo rainforest the smaller African forest elephant ( Loxodonta cyclotis ) organism helps. The majority ofthe Congo rainforestlies within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which accounts for 60 percent of Central Africas lowland primary forest. The vast drainage area of the Congo River includes almost the whole of the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, western Zambia, northern Angola, and parts of Cameroon and Tanzania. This rainforest is the largest contiguous forest, which is home to more than 600 species of trees and more than 10,000 species of animals. There are approximately 10, 000 species of tropical plants in the Congo Basin and 30 percent are unique to the region. Endangered wildlife, including forest elephants, chimpanzees, bonobos, and lowland and mountain gorillas inhabit the lush forests. 400 other species of mammals, 1,000 species of birds and 700 species of fish can also be found here. There were lots of important kingdoms in the Congo region before the Europeans came there. Animals like monkeys and antelope are common targets, although species such as gorillas and bonobos are also at risk. This certification ensures good forest management. Mountain gorilla, Bonobo, Chimpanzee, Forest elephant, A baby gorilla and multiple elephant calves make their debut in Dzanga-Sangha, Integrated Management of Cameroons Forest Landscapes in the Congo Basin, Social Impacts of the Forest Stewardship Council Certification: An Assessment In the Congo Basin, The Economic Value of Virunga National Park. More than 100 countries signed on to the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use, a commitment to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.. The large one is the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), and the smaller one is the bonobo (Pan paniscus). The Congo Rainforest is the worlds second largest tropical forest, spans six countries, and contains a quarter of the worlds remaining tropical forest. To the east, the lowland Congolese forests transition to the highland Albertine Rift montane forests, which cover the Mountains lining the Albertine Rift, a branch of the East African Rift system. All taken at Shiripuno Amazon Lodge in the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve. Droughts between April and June are causing the dry season to start sooner. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. A chocolate tree has a much more complicated series of symbiotic relationships with a variety of other species, providing a complex example of mutualism in the tropical rainforest. They are the shortest group of Pygmies in Africa, averaging under 4 feet 6 inches (137 cm) in height, and are perhaps the most famous.
Get focused newsletters especially designed to be concise and easy to digest. If Washington wants peace in Asia, it must prepare for financial war. Another interesting animal in the Congo rainforest is the okapi. Sundaland lost the worlds largest share of primary forest cover between 2002 and 2019. The new funds to save the Congo Basin will be distributed under the U.N.-backed Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI). In fact, logging on peatlands is considered illegal under Congolese law. The Congo is the second largest rainforest, next to the Amazon. Home to nearly half of the plants and wildlife on Earth, tropical rainforests perform an essential function for the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide. They may also involve just two species with specific benefits, or one species with several relationships in a complex series of interactions. Extent: 89 million hectares of tree cover, including 64 million hectares of primary forest, in 2020. But these funds could backfire. Extent: 628 million hectares of tree cover, including 526 million hectares of primary forest, in 2020. Indonesia accounted for 75% of primary forest loss in the region, compared with 25% for Malaysia. Recently, the Washington Post called peatlands either a carbon bomb or a climate change solution, highlighting how peat is now considered a powerful tool to counter climbing emissions.. WebThe heart of the Congo basin is blanketed by an intricate forest system commonly known as the equatorial rainforest. Previously, the Norwegian governments complicity in Congo deforestation came under fire when the Rainforest Foundation UK exposed how a project funded through CAFI would jeopardize 10,000 square kilometers (nearly 4,000 square miles) of peatland, potentially releasing up to 3.8 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere. Virtually all this regions primary tropical rainforest is on the island of New Guinea, which is roughly split between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Between 2002 and 2019, more than 30 million hectares of primary forest was cleared in the region, or about half the worlds total tropical primary forest loss during that period. All rights reserved, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Kongo was a group of small states near the mouth of the Congo river ruled by a king. We also work toward Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification in all critical forests throughout the Congo Basin. Tune in for a wide-ranging discussion on Russia and Ukraines military options; the respective roles of Europe, the United States, and China; and more.
Across Central Asia, Russias brand is tainted by Ukraine, Chinas got challenges, and Washington senses another opening. These underlying sediments form outcrops in valley floors at the eastern edge of the cuvette. Download the FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. The agreement is about far more than just normalizing ties with Riyadh. Eventually the anger over what was happening forced the government of Belgium to take the land away from the king. It was renamed the Belgian Congo, but Belgium did not do very much to help the people. The bugs don't harm the chocolate tree but the tree doesn't receive any direct benefit either. Bulk numbers: more than 40,000 plant species, including 16,000 tree species; 3,000 fish; 1,300 birds, 1,000 amphibians; 430 mammals, and 400 reptiles. New Guinea is seen as the last frontier for large-scale agroindustrial expansion in Indonesia. Portugal was sailing farther and farther along the coast of Africa to reach India and China on the other side. While Cte dIvoire accounted for only an eighth of the regions primary forest cover in 2001, it had nearly 40% of total primary forest loss between 2002 and 2019. A new plan in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will allow industrial logging after a 20-year pause. Its become more important than Washingtons official alliances today. WebThe Congolese Forests are a global 200 ecoregion . Our photographer documented the effects of climate change through all four seasons in Svalbard, Norway. What should the world expect from COP28 this year? The Congo Rainforest is the worlds second largest tropical forest, spans six countries, and contains a quarter of the worlds remaining tropical forest. I agree to abide by FPs comment guidelines. Explore the benefits of your FP subscription. Many unusual animals live in the Congo Basin. How is it strengthening U.S. deterrence capabilities in traditional military areas while also racing to develop capacity in emerging technologies such as cyber and artificial intelligence? Currently, around 90 percent of palm oil from Malaysia is certified as sustainable under the MSPO, which demonstrates the potential of national certifications to bring change.
Major countries: Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua (51% of the regions primary forest), Papua New Guinea (49%), and Australia (under 1%). Weekly update on developments in India and its neighbors. These forests have been greatly diminished by agriculture, including subsistence farming by small-holders and commercial cacao, timber, and oil palm plantations. More recently, in 2018, Global Witness exposed how the single-largest owner of logging concessions in Congo, Norsudtimbera Portuguese firm registered in Liechtensteinwas operating illegally at 90 percent of its sites. Major countries: Myanmar (34% of the regions primary forest cover), Laos (19%), Vietnam (15%), Thailand (14%), Cambodia (8%), far eastern India (6%), and parts of southern China (4%). In the DRC, WWF introduced farmers to new types of crops and innovative methods to grow them so farming operations do not encroach upon nearby forest or harm wildlife. Brunei and Singapore have less than 1% of the regions forests. One-stop digest of politics, economics, and culture. There are believed to be a few uncontacted groups in remote parts of New Guinea. Our partnerships also allow us to better address the needs of local communities that depend on the forests, empowering them to steward their resources and improve their livelihoods. Most of the tree cover in this region is crops, plantations, or secondary forests. Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with. Enforced by the Malaysian government with sanctions for noncompliance, it also stops the planting of oil palm on peatland. Without its keystone species, ecosystems would look very different. Before World War II (1939-1945), almost all the countries of Africa were European colonies. Major countries: Indonesia. In 2018, according to the World Bank, it was estimated that 73% of the Congolese population, equaling 60 million people, lived on less than $1.90 a day.. Mutualism happens in Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. In the DRC alone, over a million tons of bushmeat are consumed each year.
Washington, DC 20037. Today, the Congo Basin provides food, medicine, water, materials and shelter for over 75 million people.
The Congo Basin is the worlds second-largest tropical rainforest and its biggest carbon sink. So far, an area nearly as large as West Virginia has been independently certified by FSC in the Congo Basin. Stanley became the first man known to have followed the Congo river across Africa to its source. Sign up to keep reading and unlock hundreds of Nat Geo articles for free. The Congo Basin covers some of the poorest countries on Earth. Until recently, the region had been largely ignored by donors. Trade and Russias war in Ukraine top his ambitious agenda. And if leaked documents about the $1.5 billion in funding to help protect the Congo rainforest prove correct, that may not happen. Extent: 42 million hectares of tree cover, including 10.2 million hectares of primary forest, in 2020.
In return, the ants will protect the caterpillars. 1. We also work to reduce the effects of iron-ore mines and stop poaching and bushmeat trade that may result from the influx of workers and roads. Congo basin, basin of the Congo River, lying astride the Equator in west-central Africa. Well soon find out. King Leopold only cared about making money from the land. How is it strengthening U.S. deterrence capabilities in traditional military areas while also racing to develop capacity in emerging technologies such as cyber and artificial intelligence? Through the dedication of park staff, the number of mountain gorillas in Virungas National Park has increased, from an estimated population size of 380 to 480 in less than ten years. Governments in the region have the ambition to transform their countries to 'emerging economy' status within the next two decades, and national strategies aiming for economic growth focus on the exploitation of natural resources including forests, and the rapid Illegal logging occurs when timber is harvested in violation of national laws or international agreements. Note: All figures below are based on 2020 data from the University of Maryland (UMD) and World Resources Institute (WRI) using a 30% canopy cover threshold. Despite all this, the Congo Basins forests are under threat. In recent years, investors from around the world have been focusing heavily on Africa in efforts to exploit the continents rich natural resources, often at the expense of local communities and the environment. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is finalizing an ambitiousand riskynew plan for the future management of its rainforest, which, as the second largest on Earth after the Amazon, plays a key role in storing Earths carbon.
The combined data sets were scaled up to produce a map of the entire above-ground forest carbon stocks for each 12,000-square-yard (1-hectare) land unit. Bert Markgraf is a freelance writer with a strong science and engineering background. Tune in for a wide-ranging discussion on Russia and Ukraines military options; the respective roles of Europe, the United States, and China; and more. More ways to stay updated on global news: By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. Elephants also live in the rainforest, but only the smaller African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). WebHow do you calculate the concentration of sodium hydroxide? NEW FOR SUBSCRIBERS: The Australiasian rainforest includes tropical forests on the island ofNew Guineaand northeastern Australia as well as scattered islands that were connected when sea levels dropped during that last ice age. You may opt out at any time. There are approximately 10,000 species of tropical plants, and 30% are endemic. To reduce pressure for fuelwood, WWF has been part of a tree plantation program outside Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). & Lampe K.-H. (eds), https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Congolian_rainforests&oldid=8396084, Geography of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. WebThe okapi is native to the Ituri Rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congothe only place where it can be found in the wildand has thick, oily fur to stay dry in the rain. But it seems that the law has not drastically changed how Chinese companies operate in Central Africa. Monitoring the heart of the Okavango Delta, From Radar to AI: The future of conservation, Climate change and tornadoes: a complicated link, European shamans took psychedelic drugs 3,000 years ago, See the myth of Hercules carved into this ancient sarcophagus, This ship hoped to usher in an age of nuclear-powered travel. Delivered Friday. June 14, 2022. [1] There are other endemic or notable mammals, such as Allen's swamp monkey, the dryas monkey, the aquatic genet, and there is also the Congo peafowl. Whether you need help solving quadratic equations, inspiration for the upcoming science fair or the latest update on a major storm, Sciencing is here to help. The central part of the Congo basinoften called the cuvette (literally saucer or shallow bowl)is an immense depression containing Quaternary alluvial deposits that rest on thick sediments of continental origin, consisting principally of sands and sandstones. The COP26 deforestation pledge is yet another example of Western disingenuousness: The West is once again taking on the role of white savior while ignoring its own complicity in the environmental destruction taking place on African soil. They sent missionaries and ambassadors. It seems that all of the public-relations buzz surrounding the Glasgow declaration concealed a darker truth: The new funding deal could serve as cover to allow more industrial logging and possibly wipe out the forest within decades.
The Congolian rainforest is the world's second-largest tropical forest, after the Amazon rainforest.
The Congo basin is home to the world's second-largest rainforest, whose 500 million acres have been slowly drying out for the last four decades. An even larger area of secondary forest is cleared or degraded. The Congo lost over 6 million hectares of primary forest (3.5% of the 2001 extent) and 13.5 million hectares of tree cover (4.5%) between 2002 and 2019. Most famous species: Forest elephants; okapi; great apes including gorillas, bonobos, and chimps. You might also like: Insects Decline on Land, Fare Better in Water, Study Finds. By donating us $100, $50 or subscribe to Boosting $10/month we can get this article and others in front of tens of thousands of specially targeted readers. Today, things look bleak. According to a draft letter of intent regarding the new funding, reported by the Independent newspaper, Western governments were in such a rush to make a PR splash that they didnt make the funds conditional on maintaining the logging ban. The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. To protect this important area, we are working to implement low-impact logging practices and leave some areas undisturbed. This post was updated on December 8, 2020. Their lives and well-being are linked intimately with the forest. In addition, unsustainable hunting of wildlife for the commercial bushmeat market threatens to wipe out many species. Explore the benefits included in your subscription. The gorillas of the Congo rainforest are called "lowland gorillas". How did Englands lost king end up beneath a parking lot? The Guinean Forests of West Africa consists of the lowland tropical forests that extend from Liberia and Sierra Leone to the Nigeria-Cameroon border. Symbiotic Relationships - Tropical Rain forest: Congo (Africa) In remote areas, bushmeat is the primary source of income for families, as it is the only export that will earn a profit. The Central African rainforest is also known as the Congo rainforest as a substantial part of the rainforest lies in Congo. Why? The Portuguese came to the Kongo for the first time in the 1480s.