Logging and illegal timber threaten Cameroon's forestsCEFR A1
16 Dec 2025
Adapted from Jean Sovon, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Angelo Casto, Unsplash
- Cameroon has large forests across the country.
- These forests store carbon and have many species.
- The forests face pressure from legal and illegal logging.
- People also cut land for farming and roads.
- Wood is sold and sent to other countries.
- Some shipments move across borders secretly.
- This hurts animals and local communities.
- The government loses a lot of money.
- It is hard to stop the illegal logging.
- Local people complain about loss of land.
Difficult words
- carbon — a chemical element in air and living things
- species — a group of similar animals or plants
- illegal — not allowed according to the law
- logging — cutting trees to get wood
- shipment — a group of goods sent to another placeshipments
- border — the line between two countriesborders
- community — a group of people living in one placelocal communities
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Related articles
Refugees turn food waste into cooking fuel in Uganda
In Kyaka II settlement, the Live in Green enterprise turns food and crop waste into briquettes and makes cookstoves. The project creates jobs, plants trees and received a grant to expand its work.
China expands lithium investment in Nigeria
New lithium finds in Nigeria have drawn Chinese investment. Since September 2023 Chinese firms have poured money into processing, while Nigeria pushes local processing and activists warn about unsafe artisanal mining.
Buddha Chitta seeds change rural Nepal
A new market for Buddha Chitta seeds from central Nepal has raised prices and changed lives. Demand rose after the Dalai Lama's endorsement, creating both income and conflict for farmers and new environmental concerns.
Banana stems made into fibre for textiles
Researchers at Busitema University are turning banana stems into a spinnable fibre for cloth, hair extensions and sanitary pads. The project has funding and industry partners but faces technical, legal and market challenges.
Africa’s Blue Economy and the Indian Ocean
Africa has large ocean resources that are not fully used. A new documentary by David Casimir shows opportunities in Mauritius and Madagascar, while experts say the blue economy could create many jobs if managed well.
Tasbaqa: Central Asian Tortoise on the Ustyurt Plateau
A short documentary by British director Saxon Bosworth follows the threatened Central Asian tortoise, called Tasbaqa, on the Ustyurt Plateau. The film shows the tortoise’s active months, features a Kazakh dombra soundtrack and aims to support conservation work.