Illegal Timber Trade of afrormosia in Democratic Republic of Congo

Afrormosia, a highly valued tropical hardwood, is logged by SAFBOIS concession. Afrormosia is a protected tree species whose international trade is strictly regulated (listed under CITES Appendix II). The logs are waiting to be transported by Lomami River, tributary of Congo River, near the Village of Yafunga. Industrial logging is done by SAFBOIS in the rainforest surrounded by small communities including Yafunga. Approximately 40 million people in the DRC depend on the rainforest for their basic needs, such as medicine, food or shelter.