Cameroon

The context

Deforestation

Between 2021 and 2023, Cameroon lost 2.05 million hectares of forest—equivalent to 6.5% of its forest cover—which also corresponds to 1.23 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions.

Local context

In Cameroon, deforestation, unsustainable farming, weak land governance, and limited enforcement of environmental laws threatens biodiversity. Smallholders face market barriers and rural poverty drives forest encroachment. While demography and slash-and-burn agriculture play a significant role in deforestation in Cameroon, the exploitation of the forest and cleared land for foreign markets plays a central role in environmental degradation and the dispossession of agroforestry populations, particularly indigenous peoples.

Biodiversity

Cameroon has about 28 million hectares of forest, covering nearly 62% of the country’s total area. These forests are very rich in biodiversity and represent a huge potential in terms of ecosystem services.

Agriculture

Agriculture makes up 17% of Cameroon’s GDP and employs over 43% of the population. Main crops include cocoa, coffee, cassava, and maize. In 2025, the sector’s value may reach USD 11.7 billion. However, agriculture is also a major driver of deforestation in Cameroon, with both small-scale and industrial farming—especially for cocoa, palm oil, and rubber—contributing to forest loss.

Decoupling Agriculture from Deforestation

In Cameroon, efforts to decouple agriculture from deforestation focus on improving traceability, promoting agroforestry, and aligning national strategies with EU deforestation-free product regulations (e.g. Cameroonian Cocoa Standards). Cocoa and coffee sectors are particularly targeted, given their importance to exports and their environmental footprint. Cameroon is developing digital systems to geolocate farms and ensure legal, sustainable production. These initiatives are supported by partnerships such as the SAFE project, which contribute to sustainable land use, forest preservation, and improved rural livelihoods. However, challenges remain due to weak enforcement, land tenure insecurity, and poverty-driven forest encroachment.

Approach

The SAFE project in Cameroon aims to raise awareness among the public and the private sector about the EUDR and its importance for future exports from Cameroon to the EU market. It aims to provide technical assistance, build capacity, intensify traceability systems and promote reliable and stable partnerships, also through exchange and learning with a wide range of stakeholders.

In Cameroon, the focus is on cocoa and coffee with the specific objectives of (i) strengthening supply chains to meet market requirements in terms of production in accordance with the requirements of the EUDR; (ii) facilitating the access to finance for the transition to a sustainable and deforestation-free production; (iii) strengthening the capacities of smallholder farmers to effectively and sustainably manage cocoa and coffee production systems; and, (iv) participating in multi-stakeholder platforms to disseminate information and good practices on the implementation of the EUDR at the regional and international level.

Commodities SAFE is working on in Cameroon:

Approach

Commodities SAFE is working on in Cameroon:

Activities

Traceability

SAFE promotes farm-level geolocation and data collection to ensure compliance with EU deforestation-free regulations. Producers and supply chain actors are supported to implement interoperable traceability systems.

Facilitating access to finance:

SAFE supports cooperatives and private actors to access public and private financing tailored to forest-friendly agriculture. It encourages green investments and financial incentives for sustainable practices.

Regional dialogue:

SAFE fosters regional knowledge exchange on EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) implementation. It participates in the coordination between policymakers, civil society, and value chain actors through forums and shared learning.

Integrated development partnerships with the private sector (iDPP):

SAFE supports inclusive business relationships between cooperatives and private companies committed to zero-deforestation, through contract farming and value-added production. These partnerships improve producers’ market access and environmental sustainability.

Legal and regulatory provisions:

Through multi-stakeholder dialogue, SAFE facilitates the development of inclusive policy tools that promote sustainable value chains. It also strengthens intersectoral cooperation for compliance and data sharing.

Capacity building:

SAFE trains smallholders on EUDR, sustainable and agroforestry-based production systems, good agricultural practices (GAP) and Entrepreneurship (Farmer Business Schools for coffee, FBS). It also builds knowledge on land tenure rights and legal land access.

Cameroon

Cameroon

The context

Deforestation

Local context

Biodiversity

Agriculture

Decoupling Agriculture from Deforestation

Approach

Commodities SAFE is working on in Cameroon:

Approach

Commodities SAFE is working on in Cameroon:

Activities

Traceability

Facilitating access to finance:

Regional dialogue:

Integrated development partnerships with the private sector (iDPP):

Legal and regulatory provisions:

Capacity building:

Partners

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