By Trésor Daniel Mefire
The creeping threat of desertification is emerging as one of the greatest environmental challenges of the 21st century, stripping away fertile land, eroding livelihoods, and destabilizing vulnerable communities across Africa.
In a recent research paper, “Desertification: A Global Threat with Localized Impacts in Africa and Cameroon,” scholar Trésor Daniel Mefire describes the phenomenon as a “silent socio-ecological crisis” that jeopardizes the lives of more than 3.2 billion people worldwide.
“Addressing desertification is not merely an environmental issue but an urgent imperative for global economic stability, climate mitigation, and human security,” Mefire warns.
Africa at the Epicenter
While desertification is a global concern, Africa is paying the steepest price. Drylands make up 66% of the continent’s landmass, and millions depend on fragile rain-fed agriculture and pastoralism for survival. The African Union estimates that affected countries lose up to 8% of agricultural GDP annually due to land degradation.
According to the United Nations, the Sahel region, stretching from Senegal to Eritrea, has become the global epicenter of the crisis. Over 30 million people there now face severe food insecurity, worsened by the twin blows of climate change and unsustainable land practices.
Cameroon’s Growing Emergency
Cameroon reflects the scale of the crisis at a national level. The Ministry of Environment reports that more than 12 million hectares of land—a significant share of the country’s productive territory—are already degraded.
In the Far North Region, where semi-arid conditions collide with high population growth, the influx of refugees from the Lake Chad Basin crisis has placed enormous pressure on resources. “This sudden population surge has led to accelerated deforestation for fuelwood, overgrazing, and the cultivation of fragile marginal lands,” Mefire notes.
A study published in the Journal of Arid Environments further shows that woody vegetation in parts of northern Cameroon has shrunk dramatically in the past two decades, threatening food security and the traditional livelihoods of farming and herding communities.
The Search for Solutions
To counter the threat, Cameroon has joined regional initiatives such as the African Union’s Great Green Wall, which aims to restore degraded land across the Sahel. National efforts include large-scale reforestation, farmer-managed natural regeneration, and the promotion of alternative fuels like LPG to reduce reliance on firewood.
But Mefire stresses that solutions must go beyond planting trees. “The success of these programs hinges on integrated strategies that combine ecological restoration with socio-economic development, ensuring community ownership and long-term resilience,” he argues.
A Global Test of Will
The implications of desertification reach far beyond Africa. Healthy soils serve as major carbon sinks, and their destruction releases greenhouse gases that worsen climate change. Economically, the world loses over 10% of global GDP annually in ecosystem services due to land degradation.
“The fight against desertification,” Mefire concludes, “is a definitive test of our collective commitment to building a resilient and equitable future for the next generation”.
For further reading on the full research, click on the PDF Desertification
