Cameroon has witnessed a significant escalation in tree cover loss over the past two decades, with the latest incident being a fire alert reported on January 12, 2025, in the North Region. The country's tree cover extent spans over 31 million hectares, which is a substantial part of its total area of approximately 46.60 million hectares. However, the trend of tree cover loss has been alarming, with a net loss of 625,839 hectares, marking a negative change of approximately 1.71%.
Shifting agriculture remains the predominant driver of this loss, accounting for the vast majority of the tree cover decline. Urbanization also contributes to the change, although to a lesser extent. Notably, the impact of wildfires on tree cover loss has been minimal, with no significant incidents reported in recent years except for the latest single fire alert.
Explore country profileThe data indicates a continuous struggle for Cameroon's forests, which are vital for biodiversity, climate regulation, and local livelihoods. The increasing trend of tree cover loss presents a challenge that requires attention and action to ensure the sustainability of these critical ecosystems for future generations.
