GABON

Lying at the heart ofAfrica's largest and last beltof rainforest is the Minketteequatorial forest, which ishome to Gabon's pygmies.But environmentalists fearthat it may soon becomeendangered with theonslaught of development. Afew dozen miles from thenorthern Gabonese village ofEvela - which is borderedby the equatorial forest -roads are being paved to provide better access to the area.Logging companies inGabon's capital, Librevilleand Europe see a vast Potential in this pristine forest, Atthe same time, various environmental groups are racingto prepare a list of plant andanimal species and to defineareas for strict conservation.They feel that what happensto this jungle in Gabon willhave serious repercussionson the rest of Africa's lastmajor belt of pristine rainforest, which is spread overan area stretching from theequatorial coast acrossGabon to the Congo riverbasin in Zaire.