The rare and endangered gorillas, forest elephants and antelope of the Republic of Congo have been given a gift of habitat. Congolaise Industrielle des Bois, a forest products company headquartered in Pokola, says that will set aside about one-third of its logging concession for wildlife.

The announcement brings Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB), a member of the Swiss tt Timber Group, closer to certification of its operations by the Forest Stewardship Council. In March, CIB officials said they are committed to working towards the highest standards of environmental and social performance in their 1.3 million hectare forest concession in the heart of the Congo Basin.

A wild Western lowland gorilla in the Congo Basin. (Photo by Richard Parnell courtesy WCS)

"The newly identified tract contains a region called the Djéké Triangle, home to the world's only habituated group of western gorillas, along with another area known as the Mombongo/Bomassa Zone, which is particularly rich in elephants and bongo," said Robert Hunink, chief executive officer of the tt Timber Group.

Bongo is a rare species of brown and white striped antelope with long, spiral horns that is found only in lowland forests.

Diane Doran, founder and project manager for the Mondika Research Centre, said, "It is a great relief to know that the Djéké triangle and its wildlife will continue to remain free from the effects of logging."

"Along with other benefits, said Doran, "this will provide the remarkable opportunity for studying western gorillas, the last species of ape that is largely unknown to scientists, in an undisturbed setting. CIB should be commended for the extraordinary step it took in setting aside this land."

CIB plans to set aside key wildlife areas that the company identified in collaboration with the New York based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which has its headquarters at the Bronx Zoo.

In 2001, WCS announced an agreement reached between CIB and the government of Congo to safeguard the Goualougo Triangle - a tract of forest considered to be among the most pristine on Earth.

After the announcement, the triangle was eventually added to the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. Recently, WCS researchers discovered a population of chimpanzees in the Goualougo that used unique tools to capture termites.

"These areas are as remarkable as the Goualougo triangle but they are different in that they will remain part of the concession area. CIB will take full responsibility to ensure that these areas are properly protected and managed, as agreed with the Congolese government, WCS and the Mondika Research Centre," explained Hunink.

WCS conservationist Dr. Paul Elkan said, "CIB's selection of the Djéké and Mombongo/Bomassa zones as set asides is globally significant for biodiversity conservation.

Forest elephants in the Congo Basin (Photo by Michael Nichols courtesy WCS)

CIB and the Wildlife Conservation Society have also identified no-harvest zones around forest clearings, locally called "bais" and "yangas," which act as critical wildlife habitat, and also help protect traditional livelihoods.

All wetland areas have been excluded from logging and a representative area of Marantaceae type forest has been protected. The zones' protection measures will be monitored by CIB in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council's monitoring and assessment criteria.

"CIB has already shown a genuine commitment to protecting wildlife living in their forest concessions,” said Dr. John Robinson, senior vice president and director for International Conservation Programs of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Protecting this region reinforces an already existing transboundary protected area near the border of Central African Republic. Together with the 100 square mile Goualougo Triangle, over 30 percent of the total concession will be permanently protected.