(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon’s forests and natural ecosystems hold immense global value—worth more than CFA37,200 billion ($61.9 billion) as of 2020, according to a new World Bank report titled Cameroon’s Green Gold: Valuing Forests and Natural Capital. The figure nearly doubles the estimated CFA19,500 billion recorded in 2000, driven largely by rising carbon prices and the expanded value of forest services.
Nearly 96% of the ecosystem’s worth—an estimated CFA35,630 billion—is tied to carbon sequestration, highlighting the forests’ critical role in climate regulation. Cameroon’s forests form part of the Congo Basin, the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world after the Amazon, and are often dubbed the “second lung of the planet.”
The World Bank attributes the surge in value to global efforts to quantify the “social cost of carbon,” which it pegs at $52.5 per ton of CO₂e—around CFA31,500. This calculation considers the social, health, environmental, and economic damages the world would incur if these forests were lost.
Forest asset value also soared, jumping from CFA448,800 billion ($748 billion) in 2000 to CFA852,000 billion ($1.42 trillion) in 2020. This includes both market and non-market services provided by forest ecosystems, the report notes.
Despite this immense contribution to global environmental stability, Cameroon retains just a tiny fraction of the financial benefits. According to the report, only CFA111 billion, or 0.3% of the ecosystem’s value, translates into direct gains for the country. World Bank experts say this stark imbalance underscores the urgency of reforming international climate financing mechanisms.
They urge stronger implementation of tools like the REDD+ program and closer alignment with the Paris Agreement, to ensure that Cameroon receives fair compensation for its preservation efforts.
Beyond carbon storage, Cameroon’s forests offer a wide array of essential services that contribute significantly to the country’s ecological and economic stability. Sediment retention, valued at CFA105 billion, plays a crucial role in preventing soil erosion, protecting vital water sources, and lowering dredging costs in rivers and hydroelectric dams.
Timber resources, estimated at CFA348 billion, provide locally used construction materials and firewood, supporting both rural livelihoods and urban infrastructure. Additionally, non-timber forest products—such as bushmeat and medicinal plants—add another CFA42 billion in value, reinforcing food security and sustaining traditional healthcare practices across many communities.
Ludovic Amara
