By Trésor Daniel Mefire
Special Correspondent
Cameroon is facing a silent environmental crisis as its once-abundant forests continue to disappear at an alarming rate. Every year, the country loses 100,000 hectares of forest—an area equivalent to New York City wiped off the map every two years.
“This is not just about trees—it’s about survival,” says Trésor Daniel Mefire, author of a new report titled Cameroon’s Race Against Time to Save Its Disappearing Forests. “These forests are the lungs of our continent, the heart of biodiversity, and a lifeline for millions of people.”
The figures are stark. Cameroon is now Africa’s fourth-largest deforestation hotspot, part of a broader regional crisis where 3.4 million hectares vanish annually across the Congo Basin. The key drivers of this destruction, according to Mefire, are agricultural expansion, illegal logging, and rural poverty.
Over 50% of forest loss stems from clearing land for farming and commercial plantations. Illegal logging accounts for another 38%, with much of the timber destined for international markets. Meanwhile, around 60% of rural communities rely heavily on forest resources to meet their basic needs—often with no alternative means of survival.
But the environmental cost is only half the story. Deforestation releases millions of tons of carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to 3.5% of Cameroon’s greenhouse gas emissions. Wildlife is also under severe threat, with 15% of species now endangered due to habitat loss.
The human impact is just as grave. Soil erosion has reduced agricultural productivity by 20%, water sources are drying up for 40% of the population, and the country loses an estimated $500 million each year as a result of forest degradation.
Despite the grim outlook, Mefire is not without hope. “We know what works,” he says. “From community-based forest management to innovative financing, the tools are there—we just need to use them.”
The report calls for several urgent actions, including:
- Empowering rural communities through sustainable agroforestry and ecotourism
- Cracking down on illegal logging with satellite monitoring and tougher penalties
- Introducing payment systems that reward communities for conservation
- Boosting international support through climate funding mechanisms like REDD+
Mefire also urges global consumers to play their part by supporting certified sustainable products and holding companies accountable for deforestation in their supply chains.
“The time for half-measures has passed,” he warns. “We must act decisively—because what’s at stake is not just Cameroon’s forests, but the future of our planet.”
For further reading find the report here I PDF I Cameroon’s Race Against Time to Save Its Disappearing Forests
