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  Background:  
     
 

map africaThe central region of the Congo Basin, the Cuvette Centrale, comprises more than 800,000 km² of evergreen, tropical lowland rainforest. Apart from the Amazonian Basin, it is the largest rainforest area on earth.

The montane fringe areas are characterised by extreme species diversity and phylogenetically young taxa. The central basin is dominated by phylogenetically old taxa, with a high number of endemic species of both flora and fauna.

Todays estimations of plant diversity comprise over 10.000 species, of which roughly 1.400 are endemic. The vast majority of floristic knowledge has been assembled in colonial periods during the 1st half of the past century (see Flore du Congo Belge & de Rwanda Urundi). Since, little has been added and major taxonomic groups still remain undescribed. Up to now determination is hampered by lack of appropriate literature.

 
     
 

bonoboExamples for endemic relicts exist also among the vertebrate fauna, including famous species of non-human primates such as the bonobo (Pan paniscus) , of antelopes such as the Okapi (Okapi johnstonii), and birds such as the Congo peacock (Afropavo congensis).

Link Bonobo Project: (http://www.eva.mpg.de/primat/files/bonobo.htm)

 
     
  rainforest  
     
  Both flora and fauna are regularly used by the local population, where in addition to the daily requirements such as food and firewood, they are known to serve also medicinal needs. In addition, various vertebrates compete both with humans and with each other over the use of plant & animal prey. Not only humans, but also animals use plants for other than nutritional requirements, such as the construction of sleeping or breeding places or medicinal purposes.  
     
  fauna  
     
  With the aim of conservation and sustainable use of local biodiversity, a comprehensive appreciation of the availability and choice of forest products, their use for traditional including medicinal purposes was required.