African Leaders Sign Forest Preservation Pact

Leaders of seven Central African nations signed a treaty in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, pledging to help save the world’s second-largest rain forest.

The forest encompasses 500 million acres across 10 countries and is home to more than half of Africa’s animal species. But illegal logging, poaching, ivory trafficking and the bush meat trade are destroying it. Environmentalists say 3.7 million acres are lost each year.

The treaty will make it easier for countries to jointly track and combat poachers. It also will help provide funds for training and conservation, and harmonize laws in different countries that regulate logging.