TITLE:
Recent Deforestation on the Eastern Flank of Mount Cameroon and Its Perceived Consequences
AUTHORS:
Doris Besem Arrey, Godlove Ambe Neba, Brian Akoh Asoh
KEYWORDS:
Deforestation, Eastern Flank, Mount Cameroon, Land Use Change, Perceived Drivers, Perceived Consequences
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.14 No.8,
August
31,
2026
ABSTRACT: Deforestation on the eastern flank of Mount Cameroon has accelerated in recent decades, posing serious ecological and socio-economic challenges. This forested region, located outside the Mount Cameroon National Park, is ecologically rich yet increasingly threatened by human pressure. Rapid urbanization in Buea, combined with agricultural expansion, logging, and weak enforcement of forest policies, has accelerated land use and land cover (LULC) changes. Despite conservation efforts, forest degradation continues to threaten biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the livelihoods of surrounding communities. This study determined the extent of LULC changes between 2010 and 2025, identified the perceived drivers of deforestation, and assessed their perceived consequences. Satellite imagery from Landsat data for 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2025 was analyzed alongside semi-structured questionnaires administered to 200 residents of ten forest-adjacent villages. Key findings revealed a total loss of 12774.56 hectares of dense forest over the 15-year period, with significant increases in agricultural land (+11041.35 ha) and built-up areas (+1539.67 ha). The average annual rate of dense forest loss was approximately 851.64 ha/year. Main drivers of deforestation identified were smallholder farming, logging, urban expansion, bush fire, and population growth. Perceived consequences included water scarcity (36%), biodiversity loss (24%), human-wildlife conflict (12%) climate variability (10%), increased soil erosion and decline in NTFPS (7% each). The study concludes that deforestation in this region is both a socio-economic and environmental challenge, requiring integrated strategies that promote sustainable land use, community engagement, policy reform, and the establishment of a functional buffer zone around the protected area.