The 22 countries that make up Central and West Africa are characterized by physical and political diversity. The importance of biodiversity in this region is recognized: in particular, the forests of Upper Guinea, the Afromontane forests at the Nigeria/Cameroon border and the Albertine Rift, as well as the Congo Basin, as well as the Congo Basin are widely considered to be priorities in terms of conservation. But this natural heritage is under immense pressure. The human population, which numbered around 450 million people in 2013, is predicted to reach more than 600 million people in just over ten years, along with rapid urbanization rates (over 3% in virtually all countries). With the exception of Liberia, all countries in Central and West Africa achieved independence from colonial powers less than 50 years ago; civil unrest, political instability and violent conflicts are widespread, and coup attempts are numerous in the region. Of these countries, 16 are classified by the United Nations as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and 19 are at the bottom of the ranking (in the last fifth of the countries listed) according to the Human Development Index (HDI). Governance in the region is generally perceived as weak or ineffective, with 18 countries ranked in the bottom half of the countries listed in the Corruption Perceptions Index (IPC).