(a) Describe lumbering in Zaire under the following headings (I) favourable factors (II) problems of exploitation (III) contributions to the economy.

Lumbering in Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo)

(I) Favourable factors

• Extensive tropical rainforest: The Congo Basin is covered by dense equatorial forest containing large quantities of valuable hardwoods such as mahogany, ebony and iroko.
• Hot, wet equatorial climate: High temperatures and heavy, well-distributed rainfall throughout the year encourage rapid and continuous tree growth.
• Presence of navigable rivers: The River Congo and its tributaries provide cheap water transport for floating logs to sawmills and ports.
• Availability of labour: A large local population supplies the labour needed for felling and hauling timber.

(II) Problems of exploitation

• Dense undergrowth and mixed forest: Valuable trees grow scattered among many useless species, making selective felling difficult and costly.
• Poor land transport: Few roads and railways, coupled with the swampy terrain, make it hard to move logs to processing centres.
• Heavy hardwoods: Many tropical hardwoods do not float easily, adding to transport difficulty.
• Pests, diseases and climate: The hot, humid climate breeds pests and diseases (such as those spread by the tsetse fly) that affect workers and hinder operations.
• Shortage of capital and skilled labour: Inadequate funds and few trained workers limit large-scale mechanised lumbering.

(III) Contributions to the economy

• Foreign exchange: The export of timber and wood products earns foreign currency.
• Employment: Felling, sawmilling and transport of timber provide jobs for many people.
• Raw materials: It supplies timber for construction and raw materials for furniture and paper industries.
• Development of infrastructure: Lumbering encourages the building of roads and the growth of towns in forest areas.
• Government revenue: Royalties and taxes on timber add to government income.