Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/488

 118 STAT. 458 PUBLIC LAW 108–200—FEB. 13, 2004 Public Law 108–200 108th Congress An Act To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2004 to carry out the Congo Basin Forest Partnership program, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Congo Basin Forest Partnership Act of 2004’’. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) The tropical forests of the Congo Basin, located in the Central African countries of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Sao Tome/Principe, are second in size only to the tropical forests of the Amazon Basin. (2) These forests are a crucial economic resource for the people of the Central African region. (3) Congo Basin forests play a critical role in sustaining the environment—absorbing carbon dioxide, cleansing water, and retaining soil. (4) Congo Basin forests contain the most diverse grouping of plants and animals in Africa, including rare and endangered species, such as the lowland gorilla, mountain gorilla, chim panzee, and okapi. These plants and animals are invaluable for many reasons, including their genetic and biochemical information, which could spark advances in medical, agricul tural, and industrial technology. (5) Logging operations, driven by a growing global demand for tropical hardwoods, are shrinking these forests. One esti mate has logging taking out Congo Basin forest area at a rate of twice the size of the State of Rhode Island every year. (6) The construction of logging roads and other develop ments are putting intense hunting pressure on wildlife. At current hunting levels, most species of apes and other primates, large antelope, and elephants will disappear from the Congo Basin, with some becoming extinct. (7) If current deforestation and wildlife depletion rates are not reversed, the six countries of the Congo Basin most immediately, but also the world, will pay an immense economic, environmental, and cultural price. (8) The United States has an interest in seeing political stability and economic development advance in the Congo Basin Congo Basin Forest Partnership Act of 2004. Feb. 13, 2004 [H.R. 2264]

�