A vibrant illustration symbolizing the balance between nature and community in Cameroon's forests.

Cameroon's Forests at a Crossroads: Balancing Livelihoods and Conservation

Kai Mendoza in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the critical challenges facing sustainable forest management in Cameroon and how prioritizing community needs is key to preserving its natural resources."

Cameroon, a central African nation, is a powerhouse in the Congo Basin forest region. Its forests, spanning an estimated 20 million hectares, are vital for biodiversity and climate regulation. However, this precious resource is under threat, with annual forest loss estimated at 1% between 1990 and 2010. This deforestation poses significant challenges to the nation's sustainable development goals.

Sustainable forest management in Cameroon requires a multifaceted approach that addresses forest law enforcement, governance, and community needs. The country's comprehensive Forestry Law, enacted in 1994, was intended to be a milestone in this direction. However, despite advancements in creating protected areas, monitoring systems, and revenue enhancement programs, challenges persist.

This article delves into the challenges to sustainable forest management in Cameroon, focusing on the delicate balance between community livelihoods and conservation efforts. By examining the Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve (SBFR), we uncover localized factors driving deforestation and explore strategies for a more sustainable future.

Unveiling the Root Causes of Deforestation: It's More Than Just Logging

A vibrant illustration symbolizing the balance between nature and community in Cameroon's forests.

The pressure on Cameroon's forests stems from a complex interplay of socio-economic and ecological factors. Issues such as complicity in implementing forest laws, unequal distribution of forest tax revenue, institutional conflicts, and inadequate resources exacerbate the problem. At the community level, the creation of forest reserves without proper consultation or alternative livelihood options for local populations leads to unsustainable exploitation.

A study of the SBFR revealed key drivers of deforestation: scarcity of farmland outside the reserve, population growth, poverty, and the fertile nature of the forest land compared to overused community farming areas. These factors create a cycle of dependence on forest resources, making it difficult for communities to adopt sustainable practices.

Agriculture: Expansion of farmland for food and cash crops is a primary driver, especially given the limited availability of fertile land elsewhere.
Fuelwood: Dependence on wood for cooking energy places immense pressure on forest resources.
Illegal Timber Exploitation: While less frequent, illegal logging for timber generates high income for those involved, contributing significantly to deforestation.
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs): Collection of products like nuts, leaves, and medicinal plants provides sustenance but can still impact the ecosystem.

These activities, often carried out on a permanent basis with varying degrees of intensity, have significant impacts on the forest ecosystem. Recognizing these localized triggers is crucial for designing effective and sustainable forest management strategies.

A Path Forward: Prioritizing People and Planet

Sustainable forest management in Cameroon requires a holistic approach that prioritizes both environmental conservation and community livelihoods. This means investing in modern agriculture, promoting non-wood domestic cooking energy, and improving rural transport systems. By addressing the root causes of deforestation and empowering local communities, Cameroon can secure a future where its forests thrive and its people prosper.

About this Article -

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.5539/jsd.v8n9p226, Alternate LINK

Title: Challenges To Sustainable Forest Management And Community Livelihoods Sustenance In Cameroon: Evidence From The Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve In Southwest Cameroon

Subject: General Environmental Science

Journal: Journal of Sustainable Development

Publisher: Canadian Center of Science and Education

Authors: Ewane Basil Ewane, Ewane Bertrand Olome, Heon-Ho Lee

Published: 2015-11-29

Everything You Need To Know

What are the primary factors leading to deforestation in Cameroon's forests?

Cameroon's forests face threats primarily due to the expansion of farmland for agriculture, the demand for fuelwood as a primary cooking energy source, illegal timber exploitation, and the collection of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). Agriculture, driven by the scarcity of fertile land outside forest areas, leads to deforestation as communities seek land for food and cash crops. The reliance on wood for cooking puts immense pressure on forest resources, and illegal logging, while less frequent, contributes substantially due to the high incomes it generates. NTFPs also contribute.

What challenges hinder sustainable forest management in Cameroon?

Sustainable forest management in Cameroon is challenged by issues such as complicity in implementing forest laws, unequal distribution of forest tax revenue, institutional conflicts, and a scarcity of resources. These governance and economic factors exacerbate deforestation as they undermine the effectiveness of conservation efforts and create a cycle of unsustainable exploitation at the community level.

How does the Forestry Law of 1994 aim to impact forest management in Cameroon, and what limits its effectiveness?

The Forestry Law of 1994 in Cameroon aimed to enhance forest management through the creation of protected areas, monitoring systems, and revenue enhancement programs. However, its effectiveness is limited by the persistent challenges of forest law enforcement, governance issues, and the failure to adequately address community needs and alternative livelihood options. These shortcomings mean that, despite the law's intentions, deforestation continues.

What strategies can balance community livelihoods and forest conservation in Cameroon?

To balance community livelihoods and forest conservation in Cameroon, a holistic approach is needed. This includes investing in modern, sustainable agriculture to reduce the need for farmland expansion, promoting non-wood domestic cooking energy sources to decrease reliance on fuelwood, and improving rural transport systems to facilitate access to markets and services. Such strategies aim to address the root causes of deforestation by providing alternative economic opportunities and sustainable practices for local communities.

What factors drive deforestation specifically within the Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve (SBFR)?

The Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve (SBFR) exemplifies the challenges of balancing conservation and community needs in Cameroon. Deforestation drivers within the SBFR include farmland scarcity, population growth, poverty, and the fertile nature of the forest land compared to overused community farming areas. These factors create a cycle of dependence on forest resources, highlighting the need for targeted interventions that address both environmental conservation and community well-being within the reserve.