How local communities in Northern Cameroon are restoring their land

A woman from the village of Gambour holding a young plant. Photo by Colette Maba /CIFOR-ICRAF

In the northern reaches of Cameroon, where the climate is characterized by long, dry seasons and sparse rainfall, communities are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Starved of rain, scorched by relentless heat and combined with rising temperatures, the land faces intensifying drought, soil degradation and reduced water availability. 

“This year, we have experienced a historically severe dry season,” says Kabirou Mohammadou, climate change researcher for the Adaptation to Climate Change (INNOVACC) project. “It was so severe that the Minister of Public Health had to issue a press release outlining a few key points for survival during this period.”

As temperatures climb and the rain retreats, the once fertile soils degrade into dust and water sources vanish, leaving the communities of the North increasingly vulnerable. Crop yields are reduced. Food security falters. And with over 95% of households relying on firewood for cooking, the few surviving trees face a dire threat.

To tackle these issues, the INNOVACC project began in 2022 and has been working with communities of the North and Far North regions to enhance their resilience to climate change. The project promotes sustainable practices to restore degraded landscapes and improve access to more efficient energy resources needed for the economic development of rural households.

A focus on community nurseries and climate-smart villages

Community nurseries play a key role in combating desertification, serving as tangible resilience measures for drought mitigation and land restoration. To further acknowledge the importance of local nurseries, an event was organized at the end of June to mark the International Day of Desertification. In Gambour, one of the climate-smart villages, the community’s commitment to nurturing their tree nursery created an opportunity to actively engage all —men, women, and youth— in discussions on agroforestry and the sustainable management of wood energy resources.

“We aimed to raise awareness about the challenges of drought and land degradation,” says Colette Maba, a researcher with the INNOVACC project. “And most importantly, we wanted to explore solutions, with particular emphasis on the role of trees in adapting to climate change.”

The event included discussions on the benefits of agroforestry for biodiversity, soil quality and food security, as well as its impact on local temperatures, drought conditions and wood availability for cooking. Community members learned about the medicinal value of certain tree species produced in community nurseries. They also participated in training sessions on biological seed coating led by Braï Pierre, the manager of the village nursery team.

An official conducts a training session on biological seed coating in Gambour, Cameroon. Photo by Colette Maba/CIFOR-ICRAF

Growing trees, growing resilience

The day ended with the presentation of the local nursery’s achievements and the distribution of 15,700 seedlings. Ten species of seedlings were given to households to support reforestation efforts in local areas, including the main roads, the market, and the nearby village’s sacred forest.

“All the members have understood the importance of trees,” says Pauline Kobe, a nursery worker. “That’s why we worked hard to make these nurseries successful.”

Women taking part in the training and tree seedling distribution. Photo by CIFOR-ICRAF

“We all know the importance of trees in our lives,” says Pierre. “They help us combat drought and reduce the impact of the wind. Trees are an asset to our community.”

“In fact, here, there’s a popular saying that goes like this: ‘if you haven’t planted a tree, you’ve lived in vain,'” Pierre adds.

Restoring arid zones in Cameroon is a long and complex process that requires the commitment of all those involved. In partnership with the authorities, local communities play an essential role in this process. The results achieved so far are encouraging, particularly the strong mobilization of local people, demonstrating that ecosystem restoration is possible—provided coherent policies are implemented and collective efforts are harnessed.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Innovation for Adaptation to Climate Change (INNOVACC) project, funded by the European Union. This project is being implemented by a consortium of international and national research institutions, namely the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), the Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), the Institut de recherche agricole pour le développement (IRAD) and the Fondation Energies pour le Monde (FONDEM).