Carbon emissions and removals from land-use and land-cover change in the Djoum, Mintom, Ngoyla, and Yokadouma forest block, Cameroon (Congo Basin)
Paper Details
Carbon emissions and removals from land-use and land-cover change in the Djoum, Mintom, Ngoyla, and Yokadouma forest block, Cameroon (Congo Basin)
Abstract
Land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) is a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions in tropical regions and plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle. In the Congo Basin, however, LULCC-associated carbon dynamics remain poorly quantified at local scales, particularly in Cameroon. This study quantified carbon emissions, removals, and the net REDD+ balance associated with land-use changes in the intercommunal forest massif of Djoum, Mintom, Ngoyla, and Yokadouma between 2000 and 2024. Carbon fluxes were estimated from land-use transition data, distinguishing emissions driven by forest conversion from removals linked to forest retention and regeneration. The results indicated that no emissions occurred between 2000 and 2004, followed by a steady increase from 2005 onward. Total emissions remained relatively stable between 2005 and 2016 (101.57-109.59 tCO₂e), peaking in 2012. Forest-to-cropland conversion was the primary emission source, accounting for the largest share throughout the study period. From 2017 onward, total emissions declined by approximately 28%, dropping to 69.32 tCO₂e in 2024. Conversely, gross carbon removals from stable forests decreased from 1468.72 tCO₂e in 2000 to -1215.06 tCO₂e in 2024 tCO₂e in 2024, signaling a progressive reduction in sequestration capacity. Removals from land conversion to forest emerged after 2014, increasing from -4.44 to -35.97 tCO₂e by 2024 due to localized forest regeneration. However, the upward trend toward less negative values indicates a gradual decline in the massif’s carbon sequestration function. Despite this weakening, the study area remained a net carbon sink in 2024. These findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen forest conservation, restoration initiatives, and sustainable land management to preserve the climate mitigation potential of Congo Basin forests and support Cameroon’s REDD+ objectives.
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