Young environmental leaders from across Cameroon have made a powerful call for deeper youth involvement in forest governance and climate action following a three-day national workshop on sustainable forestry.
Held at the National Forestry School in Mbalmayo, the AfricanYouth4Forests (AY4F) workshop brought together young minds under the theme “From Science to Youth Action for Sustainable Forestry.”
The event was organized by the African Forest Forum (AFF), in partnership with the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), and supported by Sweden’s Formas.
In a joint declaration, participants highlighted urgent threats to Cameroon’s forests, including illegal logging, weak law enforcement, and limited youth engagement.
They also flagged lack of access to finance, training, and technology as major barriers.
Despite the challenges, the youth pledged to drive change through innovation and community-led solutions—proposing reforestation projects, green enterprises, eco-tourism, and the use of digital tools in forest monitoring.
“Young people are not waiting to be invited to the table—we’re building our own,” the declaration read.
The youth called on the Cameroonian government to ease bureaucratic hurdles, promote youth-led forest reserves, and strengthen environmental education.
They also urged the private sector and global partners to invest in youth-led initiatives.
Speakers, including Dr. Peter Mbile and Dr. Moussa Massaoudou of AFF, emphasized the critical role of digital skills, AI, and carbon markets in modern forest management.
The Mbalmayo workshop stands out as a clear signal: Africa’s youth are ready to lead the continent’s green transition.
