A sample of tropical hardwood in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The third from left is Afrormosia, a protected tree species whose international trade is strictly regulated (listed under CITES Appendix II) . Expansion of logging into remaining areas of intact forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo will destroy globally critical carbon reserves and impact biodiversity. Beyond environmental impacts, logging in the region exacerbates poverty and leads to social conflicts. The DRC’s rainforests are critical for its inhabitants, who depend upon the rainforests to provide essential food, medicine, and other non-timber products, along with energy and building materials.