Cameroon Reforestation Project

Cameroon’s centre region is a French-speaking region occupying 69,000km2 of the country’s so-called ‘central plains’. With a population of more than four million people, the centre region is one of Cameroon’s most densely populated provinces, although much of this population is centred around Yaounde, the capital. With an increasing population, pressure on natural resources is growing year on year. Deforestation, resulting from over-exploitation of resources, is a growing problem, being driven not only by commercial logging but also by the firewood collection activities of the population. However, with high levels of precipitation, a steady climate, and fertile tropical soils, the region is ideal for planting trees and has the potential to reverse deforestation trends. Protected areas in the region, such as Mpem et Djim, have high levels of vegetation diversity and 79 native species of mammals (including small numbers of leopards and lions, as well as Chimpanzees).