The Congo Basin is the world’s second-largest rainforest and many Indigenous peoples depend on it for food, shelter and traditional knowledge. In the Republic of Congo some groups live deep in the forest or near forest villages. The government has banned the term “pygmee” as pejorative.
China’s ties with the Republic of Congo began in the 1960s. Officials said trade reached USD 6.57 billion in 2023 and Chinese firms work in agriculture, minerals, wood and digital technology. Civil society groups and researchers say logging licences and other extractive activity have increased deforestation and threaten Indigenous ways of life. Local groups say rules are weak and some families have been expelled without compensation.
Difficult words
- rainforest — a large area of tall, wet trees
- indigenous — people native to a place for many generations
- pejorative — a word that shows disrespect or insult
- extractive — connected with removing natural resources
- deforestation — the loss of trees in a large area
- compensation — money or help given for a loss
- expel — to force someone to leave a placeexpelled
- civil society — groups and organisations outside the government
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Discussion questions
- Why is the forest important for Indigenous peoples?
- How can logging affect people's ways of life?
- What could governments do to help families who lose their homes?
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