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3 Feb 2025

Cameroon Grapples with Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Recent Fire Incident in Borno Region
Cameroon Grapples with Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Recent Fire Incident in Borno Region

Cameroon has been facing a significant challenge with tree cover loss over the past two decades. The country, which boasts an area of over 46 million hectares, has a tree cover extent of approximately 31.50 million hectares. However, recent data indicates a troubling trend of escalating tree cover loss, with shifting agriculture being the predominant driver.

The historical data reveals that shifting agriculture accounts for the majority of tree cover loss, contributing to over 90% of the total loss each year. In 2023 alone, shifting agriculture was responsible for a staggering loss of over 200,000 hectares, which is a clear indication of the scale of the issue. Urbanization, although less significant in comparison, has also consistently contributed to the loss of tree cover over the years.

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The cumulative effect of these losses is evident in the net change in tree cover, which has seen a net loss of approximately 626,000 hectares, marking a -1.71% change. This loss of tree cover has profound implications for the environment, biodiversity, and climate change mitigation efforts in Cameroon.

Adding to the environmental challenges, the latest incident data from the Borno region of Cameroon reports a fire alert, further highlighting the ongoing threats to the country's natural resources. While the count of incidents is currently low, the presence of such events can exacerbate the already critical situation of tree cover loss.

The situation in Cameroon serves as a stark reminder of the need for sustainable land management practices and the importance of protecting natural ecosystems. As the country continues to lose tree cover at an alarming rate, the focus must shift towards finding solutions that balance human activities with environmental conservation.

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