Future of the Congo Rainforest

The future of the Congo rainforest ecosystem is grim. At it's current rate, the destructive impact of human logging, resource extraction, and civil strife would suggest that the forest is headed towards continued depletion and endangerment. While many conservation efforts do exist, these efforts seem scanty at best. Only 8% of the forest is currently protected under law, which is hardly enough to preserve the vast degree of native plant life and wildlife. Many of the protected species are still endangered, and most show few signs of improvement. Numerous conservation agencies have been stepping up their efforts and lobbying on a international scale, which has led to the creation of a myriad of NGO's and GO's dedicated to the protection of the forest. However, due to the political and economic instability of the region, these organizations lack any coercive power to enforce the regulations they pass. This is demonstrated by the fact that several of the most revered National Parks in the rainforest have been devastated by human destruction. Given the history of forest depletion over the last several decades and the current situation in the region, it seems there is little hope for the successful preservation and restoration of the rainforest. It would take massive overhaul of the political systems and economies of the area to create any sort of conditions in which conservation efforts can be successful.