Cameroon's forests cover nearly half of the country (about 22-23 million hectares), or about 46% of the territory, the second largest forest in Africa (after the DRC) and the 5th largest in terms of biological diversity.

Issues and threats:

• Deforestation: Conversion to agricultural land, logging (legal and illegal), fuelwood harvesting, infrastructure, mining.

• Pressure on resources: Intense logging and agribusiness degrade the environment.

• Degradation of sacred sites: Urbanization and unsustainable agricultural practices threaten culturally important forests.

The situation in Cameroon is a gradual transition to a total ban on the export of logs, enacted by an April 2024 decree banning 76 species, in line with the CEMAC's decision of a general ban in 2028, with gradual implementation from 2025, to promote local wood processing, increase added value, create jobs and tax revenues, despite negative short-term economic impacts. The export duty has been drastically increased (to 75% in 2024) to discourage gross exports.

Main importers of timber (logs):

• For a long time the leading market, it remains a major buyer, even if it has lost share to other supplier countries.

• Vietnam : Has become the second largest market for Cameroonian timber and a strong competitor for China, with steady growth in log imports. 

Main markets for processed wood (sawnwood, etc.):

• Europe : The Netherlands, Italy, France and Germany are the most importers of wood from Cameroon, mainly processed (sawnwood).

• Southeast Asia : Malaysia was a major supplier of sawn timber to Europe, but Asia in general remains an important source and market. 

Trends & Actors:

• Vietnamese companies are major players on the ground in Cameroon, facilitating these exports to Asia.

• Europe is a market for finished products, but also for logs via players such as the Compagnie de Commerce et de Transport (CCT) which exports to Europe, according to Greenpeace.

• Cameroon's objective is to encourage local processing to create more added value, reducing dependence on the export of raw logs.