. The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests: Africa. Central African Republic river and 515 km by rail. The logging companies in the west of the country (Sangha-Mbaere Prefecture) are 1250 km from Pointe Noire by the Sangha and Congo rivers and, again, 515 km by rail. There are only a few months of the year when river levels permit exportation and there is a great deal of loss in stockage and trans- port. Transport costs account for 60 per cent of the final product price and, as fuel costs rise rapidly, many companies have been forced out of business in recent years. Production has, indeed, b
. The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests: Africa. Central African Republic river and 515 km by rail. The logging companies in the west of the country (Sangha-Mbaere Prefecture) are 1250 km from Pointe Noire by the Sangha and Congo rivers and, again, 515 km by rail. There are only a few months of the year when river levels permit exportation and there is a great deal of loss in stockage and trans- port. Transport costs account for 60 per cent of the final product price and, as fuel costs rise rapidly, many companies have been forced out of business in recent years. Production has, indeed, been declining because of these high overheads (Figure ). The '4th Parallel' road, which will eventually link Bangui with the Atlantic port of Kribi in Cameroon, has been completed from Bambio to Yamendo (40 km north of Nola) and most companies are turning towards road export of logs by way of Cameroon. Although this road will facilitate the export of logs from CAR, a vast increase in producdon will be necessary to justify the con- struction costs of the road. The road could be the salvation of the wood industry in CAR but a disaster for the forest, its wildlife and people. Already there is evidence of unregulated exploitation and lack of control along the road. Logging companies have con- structed unauthorised feeder roads and have begun felling and transportation without the consent of the Forestry Department. The only control of exploitation and poaching along the road is by two guards posted at Bambio and they have no means of transport. Logging is the third largest export industry in CAR after dia- monds and coffee. Between 1980 and 1985, its annul contribution to the national economy was approximately USS8 million, that is, between per cent and per cent of national export earnings. In 1981, logging provided per cent of direct employment (forestry is the largest employer in the country) and 12 per cent of all salaries in the 'modern sector'. In spite of its
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