Congo log canoe. Men carving a tree trunk into a canoe in a tropical rainforest in the Congo Basin. This type of canoe is known locally as a pirogue. In the absence of roads, much travel is this region is done on water, and trees are a vital source of wood for construction. Overall, demand for timber has risen as the population in the Congo Basin has increased. However, in many areas excessive woodcutting contributes to deforestation and has been made illegal. Photographed near the reserve of Mabali, in Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.