Integrating Scientific Data and Traditional Knowledge

This report explores the growing threat of wildfires to protected areas and Indigenous or community-owned forests in Cameroon, with a focus on the Mount Cameroon area. Drawing on forest cover loss data from 2022 to 2025, we find that deforestation rates remain consistent but wildfire risks are rising, and especially in community-managed landscapes.

To address this escalating problem, it is essential that we end deforestation, strengthen land rights, and empower Indigenous leadership. These actions are critical if we are to protect the forests, the biodiversity, climate stability, and community livelihoods — including beekeeping, sustainable forest resource use, and agroforestry.

Wildfires are increasingly frequent and intense across Mount Cameroon’s savanna and forest zones, threatening ecosystems and the well-being of 41 forest-dependent communities surrounding Mount Cameroon National Park. Interestingly, Indigenous and community-managed lands exhibit some of the lowest rates of tree cover loss; however, they face growing wildfire threats driven by agricultural expansion, slash-and-burn practices, wild honey hunting and poaching — all of which have contributed to a dramatic increase in fire activity. Compounding the problem are climate change and historical fire suppression policies, which are fueling uncontrolled bushfires and endangering carbon-rich forests, biodiversity, and local communities.

These challenges underscore the critical importance of community leadership and secure land tenure in reducing fire risks and promoting ecological resilience.

GLOHA’s recommended actions for wildfire mitigation:

• Promote conservation and agroforestry practices among local communities.
• Secure and uphold Indigenous and community land rights (e.g., sacred forests) to strengthen forest stewardship.
• Revive cultural burning traditions that safely reduce fuel loads and restore healthy fire regimes.
• Fund, establish, and train Indigenous and community-led fire brigades to improve local preparedness, response and recovery.
• Increase access to fire monitoring tools and early warning systems for timely detection and intervention.
• Mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• End deforestation and land-clearing fires (slash-and-burn) to prevent escaped burns that fuel uncontrolled bushfires.

By combining scientific data with traditional ecological knowledge, these actions will provide evidence-based pathways to protect forests, combat climate change, and enhance community well-being.

The video below shows a bush fire in Mount Cameroon National Park

“When we talk about people whose activities lead to bush fire, we look at wild honey collectors, poachers and farmers. Thanks to the efforts of local organizations like GLOHA, we attempt to implement some fire management strategies but the vastness of the Mountain is making it difficult because while we are working at the windward side of the Mountain, fire comes from the leeward side or vice versa. Bush fire is detrimental to the ecosystem; it kills both micro and macro organisms, destroys habitat, and destroys the soil structure and quality.”  — National Park Official