The Congo rainforest, spanning 6 countries and 500 million acres, is the second-largest tropical rainforest worldwide. It is home to a thriving array of wildlife and complex ecological systems, which are diverse groups of insects and plants, but also several endangered species.

Gorillas, forest elephants, Okapis, and Pangolins are just a few examples of the exotic wildlife that take sanctuary here. There are 400 other species of mammals, 700 species of fish and 1,000 species of birds inhabiting this forest.

The diverse flora and fauna are not the only contributors to this bionetwork. 75 million people rely on the Basin for fresh water, food, and shelter. With a history of 50,000 years of inhabiting this lush landscape, there are almost 150 different ethnic groups, with some dating back to ancient hunter-gatherer tribes.

The Basin teems with natural resources such as timber, oil, minerals, diamonds and gold. Nicknamed "Africa's Lungs" for the oxygen it produces, the Congo Basin houses 75% of Africa's total plant cover, making this a vital carbon sink for global climate regulation.

The Basins are limited, and precious resources are threatened since no responsible and long-term feasible management systems are in place.

Increased access and convenience, in the form of new roads, have brought about other developments which require lots of natural resources such as timber. The expansion of agro-industries and the logging industry could result in an irreparable loss of vital plant life for survival.

Increased global demand for the forest's valuable natural resources has put pressure on the flora and fauna population but also causes disruptions in the smaller ecosystems and larger bionetworks.

The general mining market is pressing, putting Oil, gas, and minerals at risk of being overmined and exploited.

Rapid tourist expansion has also paved the way for illegal poaching of wildlife and increased foot traffic, disturbing the natural order. The construction of roads and accommodations to facilitate tourism requires important natural resources to be built.

Last week, there was a call to action. (click the video link below for the full video) (obviously not applicable to print version) Murtala Touray, the Program Director for Greenpeace Africa, has said that there will be a conference in Yaounde, Cameroon, to approach the encroaching capitalization with new resource management models that are environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and human centred. When change is needed, the problem must be addressed differently than previously. This is a big stride in the right direction as it opens the conversation for civil society to make well-advised suggestions to keep their country green.

The Basin is at a fork in the road: we need to choose better ways of managing our natural resources to preserve our biodiversity and wildlife and for the sustainability of ecosystems and bio-networks essential for global climate regulation. Community engagement is the first step to keeping Africa green for us all.

We must remember that we need nature to survive; nature does not require us.