The 2026 edition of the International Day of Forests was commemorated in Government High School Bokwoango-Buea on Thursday, March 19, 2026 under the global theme “Forests and Economies,” with strong messages on the economic importance of forest resources, environmental protection, and the urgent need for sustainable forest management in South West Region. The event brought together administrative authorities, forestry officials, students, environmental stakeholders, and local communities in a celebration that combined awareness, education, and symbolic tree planting.
Presiding over the ceremony on behalf of the SW Governor, the Secretary General at the Governor’s Office, Acha Gilbert Nkwenti, stressed that forest preservation is not only an environmental duty but also a strategic pathway to sustainable development. He reminded participants that Cameroon has pledged to restore 12 million hectares of degraded land under the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative. Acha Gilbert Nkwenti noted that forests create jobs, generate foreign exchange, and contribute significantly to the national economy, while warning against threats such as illegal logging, uncontrolled agricultural expansion, and climate change. He called on councils, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, and young people to actively support forest protection efforts.
The South West Regional Delegate of Forestry and Wildlife, Christian Manga-Bell Epie, said this year’s theme highlights the central role forests play in economic development, employment creation, and the livelihoods of millions worldwide.
He noted that globally, the forest sector employs over 33 million people and generates enormous economic value through timber, non-timber forest products, ecosystem services, and the expanding bioeconomy. In Cameroon, he added, forestry remains the country’s third largest source of revenue after agriculture and crude oil, contributing nearly four percent of the national Gross Domestic Product and generating about 60 billion CFA francs annually in tax revenue. Christian Manga-Bell Epie emphasized that non-timber forest products such as bush mango, medicinal plants, charcoal, firewood, honey, spices, and rattan continue to sustain local livelihoods, especially in rural communities. He further explained that revenue from logging operations is shared among the State, councils, FEICOM, and neighbouring villages, making forestry an important pillar of decentralized local development.
The Regional Delegate highlighted several achievements recorded by the Regional Delegation in the areas of forest restoration and biodiversity conservation between 2023 and 2025, including the planting of over 33,000 trees in community forests and more than 27,000 trees in forest reserves, representing over 150 hectares of reforested land.
The ceremony featured student presentations on forest conservation, educational talks, exhibitions, and a symbolic planting of 15 seedlings within the school campus, reinforcing the importance of involving younger generations in environmental stewardship.
The 2026 International Day of Forests in Buea thus ended as a strong appeal for collective responsibility in protecting Cameroon’s rich forest heritage for future generations.
