Nature in Cameroon

Cameroon's natural regions range from Guineo-Congolian evergreen rainforest in the South, East and Southwest to montane forests and grasslands along the Cameroon Volcanic Line. The Adamaoua and northern regions contain forest-savanna transitions, while the North and Far North include Sudano-Sahelian savannas, the Yaéré and Waza-Logone floodplain, and Lake Chad wetlands. The Atlantic coast includes estuaries, mangroves and other coastal wetlands. Major rivers and wetland systems include the Dja, Sangha, Ntem, Logone and Benue. This variety supports high species diversity and local endemism, especially in the highlands. Notable threatened or culturally significant species include forest and savanna elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, lions, giraffes, hippos, pangolins and many bird species. The Dja Faunal Reserve records 109 mammal species, 360 bird species and 61 fish species. Forest plants such as moabi, Baillonella toxisperma, Irvingia, Gnetum, Ricinodendron, Dacryodes, Garcinia and medicinal plants also support local food, health and livelihood practices. The public system is distributed across several institutions. MINFOF leads forest and wildlife policy, protected-area administration, inventories, restoration and hunting and fauna rules. MINEPDED leads environmental, biodiversity and climate policy. The Prime Minister creates, expands or classifies certain protected areas by decree. Communes and communities participate in council forests, community forests and local management. UNESCO and the Ramsar Convention provide international recognition but do not replace Cameroon's national administration. A 2025 official financial framework lists 22 national parks, 5 wildlife reserves, 6 sanctuaries and 3 zoos. Major protected areas include Waza, Bénoué, Bouba Ndjida, Faro, Korup, Campo-Ma'an, Lobéké, Boumba Bek, Nki, Mpem et Djim, Mbam et Djerem, Douala-Edéa and Mount Cameroon. The Dja Faunal Reserve and Sangha Trinational are UNESCO World Heritage sites. UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere network includes Waza, Bénoué, Dja, Korup Rainforest, Doumba-Rey and Takamanda-Cross River Gorilla. Cameroon has seven Ramsar sites covering about 827,060 hectares, including Waza Logone Floodplain, Rio Del Rey, Ntem, Lake Chad, Sangha, Ebogo and Barombi Mbo. Law N°94-01 of 20 January 1994 provides the main framework for forests, wildlife and fisheries. Protected-area creation, expansion and classification follow the applicable legal procedure, and affected rights may require compensation. Local riparian communities may have droits d'usage, meaning personal use of forest, wildlife or fishery products within the legal limits. These rights exclude protected species and generally do not apply in national parks, integral ecological reserves, zoos or game ranches. Depending on the designation, limited use may be possible in wildlife reserves, sanctuaries or buffer zones. Public access to state forests can also be restricted or prohibited. A community forest is a legally recognized local entity with defined boundaries, a resource inventory, community consultation, a management plan and state authorization and supervision. Commercial use is not the same as personal droits d'usage. Hunting, fishing, grazing, harvesting non-timber forest products and collecting medicinal plants can therefore require different permissions or management rules. Sustainable wildlife management combines MINFOF and community action with local hunting and habitat data, adaptive rules and alternative livelihoods. Nature-based visits may include wildlife viewing, birdwatching, trekking and forest or savanna visits. Entry to a protected area is not the same as unrestricted access. Visitor prices, opening times and permit deadlines are not uniform across Cameroon, so the relevant MINFOF office or protected-area administration must confirm them for the chosen site. Research and education likewise require authorization that depends on the location and institution. ENEF Mbalmayo and the Ecole de Faune de Garoua provide specialized learning, while biosphere reserves support conservation, monitoring, research, education and sustainable-development learning. Indigenous and local ecological knowledge contributes to understanding and managing ecosystems, but no single national standard qualification or fee covers all nature education. Natural pressures vary by region. The North and Far North face drought, desertification, land degradation, bushfires and water stress. The Waza-Logone basin and coastal areas face flooding. Highlands and forest zones can experience erosion and landslides, while the coast faces erosion, sea-level rise and flooding. Limbe and Kribi are exposed to volcanic or seismic risk. Climate change increases pressure on water, forests, wetlands, fish stocks and wildlife. Emergency response and disaster assistance belong primarily to the disaster-management field; here the focus is on the natural setting and the related risks. Illegal logging, poaching and wildlife crime, habitat loss, agricultural expansion, mining, infrastructure, overgrazing, transhumance and human-wildlife conflict can bring nature protection into conflict with customary or community access. Protected-area boundaries, participatory management, community forests, anti-poaching measures, surveillance, compensation and benefit-sharing are therefore linked governance issues. People and organizations must follow protected-area rules, species protections, permits, quotas and management plans. Communities have participation and management rights only within the applicable legal framework and also carry responsibilities for agreed protection and use rules.