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In the global context of global warming, Cameroon's forests have a major role to play in mitigating climate change. The objectives of this study were to assess and spatialize carbon stocks in different types of land use/land cover types. To achieve these objectives, an approach based on the diachronic analysis of satellite images and the inventory of woody plants with a diameter greater than or equal to 10 cm in plots of 250 m x 20 m were carried out. The results show a 22.94% decrease in the area of mature forests and an 8.39% increase in the area of young forests in 2015. Results from field surveys show that carbon stocks vary from stratum to stratum and pool to pool. Stored carbon is higher in mature forests (133.52 tC/ha) and low in swamps (6.71 tC/ha). The aboveground compartment stores more carbon (224, 88 tC/ ha) followed by the belowground compartment (42.88 tC/ ha) and finally dead standing wood (2.59 tC/ ha). The mapping provided more account for the spatial variability of carbon stocks between land use/land cover types, providing arguments for fully meeting REDD+ targets.

If family farming is supported, it can serve as a foundation for growth and food security. One of Cameroon's biggest development challenges is still food insecurity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the situation and key determinants of food security in the northern forest-savanna transition zone of the Central Cameroon Region. To do this, 180 family farmers from Mbangassina, Ntui, Batchenga, and Obala participated in a survey and field observations (January-March 2020; March-May 2021, and July-September 2021). According to this survey and these findings, the useful agricultural area is 4.55 ± 0.21 hectares. Cocoa, yam, cassava, maize, plantain, sweet potato, and peanut are the principal crops mentioned. With a mixed workforce, the vast majority of agricultural work is performed manually (machetes, daba, etc). (Family and external). Seven significant challenges face family farming in these areas: poor market organization, bad road/track conditions, a lack of inputs, seasonal uncertainties/rainfall deficits, challenging access to irrigation, unstable land tenure, challenging access to credit, and challenging access to agricultural equipment. Each community faces unique challenges. The family agricultural industry, which these people rely on for their food security, needs to be saved to overcome these obstacles. According to the findings, expanding access to financial and commercial services will help agricultural operations in the study area increase food security. This will be in line with initiatives made by both governmental and non-governmental organizations to advance agricultural technologies as a way to address the issue of food insecurity.

Large-scale identification of land use and land cover change in a tropical forest is a challenge to landscape designers and forest ecologists. Here, Landsat images acquired during the years 2000, 2009, and 2018 were used to assess the spatial-dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) during the last two decades (2000–2018). A classification system composed of six classes—dense forest with (high tree density and low tree density), swampy Raphia forest, swampy flooded forest and savanna were designed as LULC for this study. A maximum likelihood classification was used to classify Landsat images into thematic areas. Elsewhere, Landsat-based LULC mapping, post classification at the per-pixel scales and self-knowledge on the land cover change processes were combined to analyze LULC change, forest loss and change trajectories in Doume Communal Forest in eastern Cameroon. The results show that half of the study area changed in 2000–2009 and that the different types of LULC changes increased and involved more diverse and characteristic trajectories in 2009–2018 compared to 2000–2009. Degradation to a dense forest with low tree density and swampy Raphia forest was dominant, and the forest was mostly lost due to trajectories that involved conversion to agroforestry systems (10%), and a lesser extent due to trajectories that involved deforestation to grasslands (7%). The trajectory analyses did thus contribute to a more comprehensive analysis of LULC change and the drivers of forest loss and, therefore, is essential to improve the sustainable management and support spatial planning of the forest.

This study was carried out in Traditional and Innovative Cocoa Agroforestry Systems (CAS) of the Central Region of Cameroon. The aim was to assess carbon sequestration potential and tree species richness of each CAS. Sampling was done in 82 plots of 25 × 25 m in Traditional and Innovative CAS of different age classes. In addition to cocoa trees, associated trees with dbh ≥10 cm were inventoried. Aboveground biomass was evaluated using the non-destructive method for cocoa trees and woody plants and destructive method for herbaceous plants, litter and roots. A total of 5843 individuals belonging to 25 families, 35 genera and 39 species were inventoried in these CAS. The most represented species were Elaies guineensis and Carica papaya in Innovative CAS, Citrus sinensis and Dacryodes edulis in Traditional CAS. In the study area, species richness found in all Traditional and Innovative CAS sampled was respectively 38 and 6. Basal area and shade trees density of Innovative CAS were respectively 4.7 m2.ha−1, and 21 trees.ha−1 against 38, 13.7 m2.ha−1 and 84 trees.ha−1 in Traditional CAS. The total carbon stock of Traditional CAS represented three-times more (138.1 t C.ha−1) that of Innovative CAS (46.9 t C.ha−1). Carbon stock increased significantly with age of Innovative CAS whereas in Traditional CAS, there were no significant differences. Innovative CAS are less preferable as a basic model in the REDD+ process compared to Traditional CAS in carbon storage and biodiversity conservation contexts.

The environmental degradation of the western region of Cameroon has intensified over time and has contributed to the perturbation of the original floristic uniformity of pioneer vegetation. Epiphytes, which are very sensitive plants, have refuge mostly on phorophyte, hence permitting the evaluation of the conservation state of natural ecosystems. The present study aims to assess a floristic inventory of vascular epiphytes in the locality of Bamelo. Sampling was carried out on 100 individuals, 20 individuals for each of the five phorophyte species based on their abundance in the locality. A total of 36 species divided into eight families and 19 genera were recorded. Monocotyledons were the most abundant with 58.33% of community and represented only by the Orchidaceae family; pteridophytes and dicotyledons represent 22.22 and 19.44%, respectively. Persea amercina and Cola anomala were the most diversified phorophytes (19 species); Dacryodes edulis was the least diversified (eight). The principal com...

This study was carried out in typical SODECAO (Cocoa Development Company) agroforestry systems of Talba locality (Central region of Cameroon). The objective was to assess the role of typical SODECAO agroforestry systems in the conservation of biodiversity and the climate change mitigation. Trees inventories of diameter ≥10 cm and all cocoa trees were carried out in 40 plots of 25 m x 25 m. Cocoa Agroforests (CAF) sampled were stratified in three age classes (≥10, 10-20 and 20 years represented by young, middle and old cocoa agroforests respectively). Their aboveground biomass was estimated using allometric equations. A total of 21 trees species belonging to 19 genera and 14 families were inventoried. Of the total number of species of trees recorded, 24% were threatened looking at their IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) status. Indeed, 9 species (43%) were indigenous and 12 (57%) exotic. The biodiversity indices values found were: Shannon (2.7), Pielou (0.7) and Simpson (0.9). The estimation of the specific wealth varied from 73-81% in CAF. The abundance of cocoa shrubs and associated tree species were estimated to 1104 stems ha-1 and 77 stems ha-1 respectively. The total carbon stock was 100 Mg Cha-1. Cocoa shrubs and associated tree species carbon stock were 30 and 70 Mg Cha-1 respectively. According to the three age classes considered, there were a significantly differences between their carbon stocks (ANOVA, p