Did you know that Cameroon’s forests are the second largest in Africa, at more than 23 million hectares? 

Forests have a major role to play in Cameroon's economic development as well as the fight against climate change and in meeting global forest conservation targets.

Sustainable management and preservation of forests is key to combating climate change, ensuring quality health, preserving wildlife, and contributing to the prosperity and well-being of present and future Cameroonians. In addition to providing food and life-saving medicines for both humans and animals, forests also purify our drinking water, clean our air, sequester carbon from the atmosphere, shelter wildlife, and enhance our quality of life. Forests give so much to our economy, and it is up to us to safeguard this precious natural resource.

Despite all these priceless ecological, economic, social, and health benefits, Cameroonian forests are endangered by fires, droughts, and unprecedented deforestation. In recent years, Cameroon has seen a surge in deforestation and forest degradation. A report by Global Forest Watch shows forest loss in Cameroon of 777,000 hectares between 2001 and 2015, with half of this occurring since 2012. If this 

When trees are cut down, the beneficial effect they provide to our society is lost, many animals relying on forests for shelter die, and the carbon stored in the trees is released into the atmosphere, causing health hazards and adding to the greenhouse effect.

According to experts, the losses have a negative impact on our economy in addition to destroying our ecosystem and accelerating climate change.  “The economic and environmental impact of forest loss is really immeasurable, necessitating urgent measures to redress the problem,” said Paul Donfack, a consultant with the African Forest Forum.

Hence, forest restoration in Cameroon is more welcome than ever, but there is even a critical need to protect existing forests, which provide the greatest benefits in terms of limiting climate change and protecting biodiversity. Tackling the problem of deforestation in Cameroon on two fronts by; reinforcing forest management to protect existing forests and then restoring the lost forest is crucial for a healthy Cameroon. Both actions will greatly reduce the forest loss gap.

The United Nations theme for the 2023 International Forest Day is "Forests and Health" This year calls for preserving and protecting our forests, not just exploiting them, because healthy forests will bring healthy people.