Home / Environment / Shrub by Shrub: Citizens Restore Yaoundé's Lost Parks
Shrub by Shrub: Citizens Restore Yaoundé's Lost Parks
25 Oct
Summary
- Yaoundé has seen wooded areas drop from 28.6% to 5.4% since 1984.
- Volunteer gardeners teach composting and preserving local plant species.
- A new urban renewal plan includes 1,000 sq metres of green space.
Concrete expansion in Yaoundé has drastically reduced the city's green cover, with wooded areas falling from 28.6% in 1984 to just 5.4% by 2024. This rapid urban development, driven by a growing population and housing deficit, has seen public parks replaced by infrastructure and informal settlements.
However, a counter-movement of dedicated volunteers is working to restore greenery. Self-taught gardener Jean-Baptiste Tchengang has been conducting community workshops since 2022, teaching composting and the preservation of local plant species. He has trained approximately 300 individuals, many of whom have gone on to create their own gardens.
Students like Mireille Nonga are also contributing by mapping the city's remaining green spaces and identifying potential reforestation sites. As of October 2026, efforts like the MoVe Yaoundé project are underway, planning for 1,000 sq metres of new green space in the city center, alongside initiatives for tree-lined avenues and permeable paving.
