Cameroon - Natural Resources and the Environment

Largely because of highly varied ecology and environment, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa - agricultural conditions are favourable, it has abundant forest reserves and substantial mineral and oil reserves

Mineral resources

Petroleum, bauxite, iron ore

Water resources

Hydropower. Annual internal renewable water resources: 18,711 cu m Per Capita (1998); Sector withdrawals - domestic 46%; Industrial 19%; Agricultural 35%

Land  - Refer to table/s

Key Environmental Concerns

Water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; over-fishing. Cameroon's tropical forest is the second largest in the world but it is being exploited at a faster rate than is sustainable. Concessions to exploit the forests are awarded through a bidding system, with companies winning by offering high inducements to the officials. There is little monitoring of forest management. As the forests have become more accessible, poachers are shooting antelope, chimpanzees and gorillas, and selling them.

Environmental policy and manifestation

International agreements - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94

Natural hazards

Recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases