Cameroon Deforestation Drivers and REDD+ Support Study

Cameroon, located in the Congo Basin region, hosts the second largest rain forest area after the Amazon. It is a strongly forest-dependent country, but recent deforestation rates are on the rise and are expected to increase further in the future due to economic development and investments in the agricultural sector.

This study consists of three key components which will contribute to the elaboration of a national strategy to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation and enhance carbon stocks (REDD+) in Cameroon. In the first step, a detailed remote sensing analysis combined with targeted field work in deforestation hotspot areas will result in a better understanding of drivers and agents of deforestation and degradation.

Second, based on the experience acquired from the GLOBIOM model, a simplified tool to compute future emissions from deforestation will be built and transferred to the coordination team of the REDD+ process from the Ministry of Environment of Cameroon. This is in order to establish a Forest Reference Level and assess the impact of different measures on future emissions. The third component of the study will help identifying realistic options to reduce future deforestation in Cameroon.

IIASA research

Researchers from the Earth Observation Systems will use their remote sensing expertise to analyzing detailed land use transitions observed in the recent past using imagery available through the Google Earth engine. The Environmental Resources and Development researchers will use their experience in land use change modelling with GLOBIOM to elaborate a simplified tool to assess future emissions from deforestation that can be used by the national REDD+ team at the Ministry of Environment of Cameroon.

This project builds on progress made during the REDD-Policy Assessment Center and is streamlined with planned activities under the R+ project in the region. 

Last edited: 09 February 2017