Dynamics of Land Utilisation and the Implications for Urban Forest Resources in Bamenda, Cameroon

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation in Bamenda, Cameroon, has intensified pressure on land resources, leading to unplanned spatial transformations that threaten the sustainability of municipal green infrastructure. This study examines how changing land utilisation practices affect the development and conservation of urban forest resources across the municipalities of Bamenda I, II and III. Using a mixed-methods design, the study integrated quantitative spatial metrics with qualitative inquiry. Empirical data were collected through 400 structured questionnaires, 15 key informant interviews and three focus group discussions, supplemented by secondary data from the Bamenda City Master Plan (2011–2027). Geographic Information System (GIS) tools in ArcGIS 10.8 were used to map land-use and land-cover trajectories from 1984 to 2025. Spatial modelling revealed extensive conversion of natural landscapes into built-up areas across all three municipalities. For example, the built-up area in Bamenda I expanded from 486.09 hectares in 1984 to 2,783.04 hectares in 2025, while forest cover declined from 5,310.40 hectares to 3,374.65 hectares over the same period, indicating substantial conversion of forest land to urban development. Weak institutional enforcement, overlapping customary and statutory land-tenure systems, and crisis-induced population displacement emerged as the principal socio-political drivers of this environmental transformation. The study concludes that current land utilisation practices prioritise short-term physical development over long-term ecological resilience. It recommends integrating urban forestry formally into municipal zoning regulations, strengthening local environmental governance and adopting community-inclusive co-management frameworks.