(a) Factors favouring lumbering in either Zaire or Cote d'Ivoire
(1) The presence of dense Tropical Forest
(2) Presence of many economic trees such as Obeche, Iroko, ahogany, Ebony, etc.
(3) Presence of wide market for the timber productswithin the country
(4) High demand for hardwood in foreign countries
(5) Availability of efficient sawmill industry to process raw material
(6) Efficient transportation system-road and rivers
(7) High rainfall all year round
8 Availability of labour.
(9) .High temperature all year round.
(b) Method of lumbering in Zaire / Cote d'Ivoire
(i) A particular tree wanted is searched for in the forest by lumber men
(ii) Platforms of about 2-3 metres high ai built around the trees with buttress roots.
(iii) Trucks carry logs to sawmills or ports of export.
(iv) The trees are then cut down with either axe or chain saws.
(v) Logs are dragged by tractors to loading points
(vi) Branches of the trees are cut off and the whole trees are cut into logs.
c Problems associated with lumbering in Africa
(a) Exploitation of timber exposes the area to agents of erosion
(b) It leads to the depletion of natural forest resources
(c) Deforestation can cause flooding
(d) It results in the leaching of the soil
(e) Most trees are not in pure stand
(f) It leads to the disappearance of wildlife
(g ) Presence of buttress roots in some trees make felling very difficult and dangerous
(h) Difficult terrace Forests in some parts are far from the coast thus increasing costs of transportation.
(k) Insufficient capital.