Here is a good mainstream media article covering recent developments in African rainforest conservation. There appears to have been a resurgence of interest in this topic as of late. Much of it is falling to chainsaws in the vast central African rainforest. Second in size only to the Amazon, this region is home to more than half of Africa's wild plant and animal species, many of which face certain extinction if destruction on this scale continues. But there are signs that uncontrolled commercial logging in central Africa might slow down.
Some government officials say it's time to change.
The central rainforest stretches into seven African nations, each of them burdened with poverty, international debt, pervasive corruption, even civil war. For these countries, exporting timber is a major source of cash, and protecting forests from over exploitation has been a low priority. Now, some tentative steps toward protection are being taken. Earlier this year, leaders from six central African states signed a declaration that may lead to protection of some forest areas and sustainable management of the rest. The summit was co-chaired by Prince Philip, representing the Worldwide Fund for Nature, which inspired the meeting.