Contexte général et ressources forestières du Cameroun

Selon le Ministère des Forêts et de la Faune (2018), le Cameroun compte environ 22 millions d'hectares de forêts, soit près de 46% de la superficie totale du pays. 26 000 hectares (0,1% de la superficie forestière) sont classés comme forêts de plantation.

Surface pays

47.3

million ha

Surface forestière

20.2

million ha

Forêt de production

15.7

million ha

Propriété forestière

100

% propriété publique

RISK SCORES

CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX (Transparency international)

/100

0 is highly corrupt, 100 is very clean.
Source: Transparency International

ILLEGAL DEFORESTATION AND ASSOCIATED TRADE (IDAT) Risk (Forest Trend)

91.75

/100

100 is higher risk, 0 is lower risk
Source: Forest trend

SOURCING HUB RISK SCORE (Preferred by nature)

/100

0 is higher risk, 100 is lower risk
Source: Preferred by nature

COUNTRY DEFORESTESTATION CLASSIFICATION LIST - EUDR (European Commission)

Standard risk category

For more information about the methodology, see here

Sources :

Interpretation of Risk Indicators

The indicators presented in this country profile (CPI, IDIAT, Sourcing Hub, EU benchmarking) are macro indicators intended to support risk analysis. They do not constitute a uniform qualification of the country or of its operators.

The EU benchmarking system classifies countries according to their risk of producing commodities that are not deforestation-free. For countries classified as standard risk, operators must conduct full due diligence, including information collection, risk assessment, and risk mitigation.

A country classified as presenting a certain level of risk does not mean that trade is prohibited. Operators may still source from such countries, provided that risks are adequately mitigated. This may include prioritising certified supply chains or those verified by independent third-party audits. Moreover, risk levels can vary within a country: a specific supplier or supply chain may present a low risk even in a country classified as high risk.

In accordance with the EUDR (Articles 9 to 11), risk assessment must in all cases be carried out at the level of the plot of origin and take into account the specific context of the region, the type of forest, and the supply chain.

The Timber Trade Portal is designed to support this analysis but does not replace the operator’s due diligence obligations.

Subnational variations in risks

Regional and Structural Risk Considerations

Risk levels may vary significantly within producer countries. However, in Cameroon, risk assessment should not rely solely on geographic location. It must be structured around a combination of spatial, legal, and operational factors.

Cameroon-specific risk approach:
Risk is primarily determined by:

Forest domain: Permanent Forest Domain (PFD) vs Non-Permanent Forest Domain (NPFD)
Type of harvesting title or permit
Level of governance and effective control

Risk interpretation by forest domain:

Permanent Forest Domain (PFD) (e.g. industrial concessions / FMUs):
– More structured regulatory framework
– Availability of management plans and documentation
– Remaining risks: allocation of titles, compliance with management plans, social and environmental obligations
Non-Permanent Forest Domain (NPFD) (e.g. community forests, small-scale permits, unclassified areas):
– Higher overall risk profile
– Limited planning and weaker traceability
– Higher exposure to land-use change and conversion
– Often limited administrative oversight
Implications for due diligence:
• Do not rely solely on country or regional risk classification
• Assess risk at supply chain level (from plot to export)
• Verify consistency of documents across the supply chain
• Prioritise supply chains with stronger traceability and third-party verification where relevant
• Apply enhanced scrutiny for supplies from NPFD or high-pressure areas

Important:
The presence of official documents does not, by itself, guarantee legality. Compliance must be demonstrated through a coherent and verifiable set of information covering the entire supply chain.

Sources:
• FAO, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 – Cameroon
• FAO, forest domain structure and land-use classifications (Permanent vs Non-Permanent Forest Domain, pp. 15–27)
• Preferred by Nature, Timber Legality Risk Assessment – Cameroon (2021)
• TRAFFIC & FODER (2025), Guide to verify the legality of timber from Cameroon

Region / Province	Forest Type	Dominant Forest Domain	Main Pressures	Key Points of Attention
East Region	Dense humid evergreen forest Dense humid semi-deciduous forest Gallery forests and savannas	Permanent Forest Domain (FMUs/UFA) + Non-Permanent Forest Domain	Mining Infrastructure Agriculture	Key production region. Verify consistency between SIGIF data and on-the-ground reality, legality of harvesting titles (corruption risk), and compliance with management plans. High risk in NPFD (small-scale permits, community forests).
South Region	Dense humid semi-deciduous forest Dense humid evergreen forest	PFD + NPFD	Agriculture Mining Infrastructure	Area under strong land pressure and conversion. Verify origin of timber (PFD vs NPFD), compliance with environmental and social obligations, and absence of post-2020 land conversion.
Centre Region	Dense humid semi-deciduous forest Dense humid evergreen forest Gallery forests and savannas	Predominantly NPFD	Agriculture Infrastructure Urbanisation	High risk due to mixing of formal and informal supply chains. Particular attention to traceability, actual origin, and document consistency. Strong urban pressure.
Littoral Region	Dense humid semi-deciduous forest Dense humid evergreen forest Mangrove forests	Mixed (primarily NPFD and processing/export hubs)	Agriculture Infrastructure Urbanisation	Risk concentrated in export chains: verify consistency of documents (species, volumes, origin), risk of document fraud and mixing of supply flows.
South-West Region	Dense humid evergreen forest Montane forest	PFD + NPFD	Agriculture Infrastructure Urbanisation	Risk varies depending on accessibility and control. Attention required for community forests and NPFD permits. Administrative control may be limited.

Carte Global Forest Watch

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