In the highlands of Cameroon’s Northwest Region, the town of Nkambe is fast becoming a model of ecological resilience and sustainable urban development. Located in the Donga Mantung Division, this community of civil servants, farmers, traders, and students is redefining what it means to be a green city in Cameroon, one where people, nature, and infrastructure coexist harmoniously.
Globally, the concept of a green city goes far beyond planting trees. It encompasses clean energy, sustainable waste management, biodiversity conservation, and green jobs that create both economic and environmental value. A true green city minimizes its ecological footprint while enhancing the quality of life for its citizens. In recent years, Nkambe has stood out as one of Cameroon’s strongest examples of this vision in action.
Since 2018, Nkambe has committed to clean energy and reforestation, transitioning primarily to solar power and significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This shift has lowered carbon emissions and improved energy reliability for homes, schools, and businesses. Working with Ecological Balance Cameroon, and other organisations, the town plants approximately 500,000 seedlings each year, restoring degraded hillsides, riverbanks, and community lands. These reforestation efforts directly contribute to Cameroon’s climate resilience and the global fight against deforestation.
In 2023, Nkambe launched the ambitious Nkambe River Revival Forest Project, spearheaded by Ecological Balance Cameroon. The project aims to restore 36 hectares of degraded land, enhance biodiversity, and plant over 1 million trees. By revitalizing the watershed, it strengthens local water systems, improves soil fertility, and boosts food security. As of July 2024, more than 3,000 green jobs have been created through nursery projects and forest maintenance, empowering youth and women across the municipality.
In August 2025, Mayor Nfor Musa Shey launched Operation 100,000 Trees, a three-year initiative to transform Nkambe into a “Green, Healthy, and Clean City.” This campaign not only combats climate change but also creates sustainable employment and civic pride. Nkambe’s success in waste management has made it one of Cameroon’s cleanest towns. In the 2024 Clean City Contest, Nkambe earned second place nationally, an impressive feat in the absence of large municipal sanitation services like Hysacam. The Guardian Post later reported that the town also received a 50 million FCFA MINEPAT Award as one of Cameroon’s Five Best Model Councils.
Central to this achievement is the Clean Habits, Clean City Initiative, a grassroots waste management model emphasizing that a clean city begins with responsible citizens. Schools, churches, and local groups regularly organize community cleanup campaigns to maintain hygiene and beautify public spaces. To enhance sanitation, the Council purchased the Northwest Region’s first modern waste collection truck in June 2025. This was financed through Clean City awards and supplemented by tricycles for neighborhood waste collection. Former dumping sites are being transformed into public facilities such as a pharmacy and market sanitation units.
Meanwhile, Ecological Balance Cameroon has launched composting initiatives to turn organic waste into fertilizer, promoting circular economy practices that benefit local farmers.
Nkambe’s environmental strategy aligns with Cameroon’s Framework Law on Environmental Management (1996) and the National Development Strategy 2020–2030, both emphasizing climate resilience, biodiversity, and inclusive growth. Although not yet part of the FAO Green Cities Initiative, Nkambe’s approach already meets international green city standards. Menyoli Charles, the Divisional Delegate for Environment in Nkambe, believes these combined efforts give the town wider significance. “Nkambe’s green city model represents a powerful example of transformative, community-driven environmental action,” he says. “It aligns remarkably well with national and regional sustainability goals while offering a replicable model for others. By restoring river-buffer forests, mobilizing communities, creating local green jobs, and keeping streets clean, Nkambe is showing how national policy can translate into real impact at the local level.”
Behind these achievements is the passion of Limbi Blessing Tata, Executive Director of Ecological Balance Cameroon and a native of Nkambe. Motivated by witnessing water scarcity in her youth, she returned in 2022 to restore the local ecosystem. “When I returned in 2022, I was shocked to see that the river we once referred to as the ‘last resort’ was drying up. It had shrunk so much it was unrecognizable. That was the moment I knew something urgent had to be done.” Supported by SUGi and other partners, she launched watershed restoration projects in 2023 to revive drying rivers and protect long-term water resources.
The impacts of Nkambe’s ecological efforts are being measured carefully. Beyond the number of trees planted or the reduction in the use of grid electricity, attention is being paid to biodiversity recovery, soil health, erosion control, and pollinator populations. Early results suggest a gradual but steady improvement. Bees and butterflies, crucial for crop pollination, have begun to return in greater numbers, while erosion rates are falling in areas where ground cover is maintained. Over time, such changes are expected to boost agricultural yields and strengthen food security for local communities.
Looking ahead, Nkambe aims to restore all degraded watersheds and forest ecosystems across the Mbum Plateau. According to Limbi, the long-term vision is to restore all degraded watersheds, riparian forests, and sacred ecosystems across the Mbum Plateau. To scale this work, efforts are being made to document best practices from Nkambe into toolkits and policy briefs for other councils. Peer learning exchanges are planned to allow neighboring municipalities such as Ndu and Nwa to observe firsthand Nkambe’s nurseries, cleanup campaigns, and water restoration projects. Partnerships with ministries, NGOs, and international organizations are also being pursued to ensure Nkambe’s model is recognized and supported within national green city frameworks.
From solar rooftops to clean streets and reforested riverbanks, the transformation of Nkambe reflects what is possible when local leadership and community action unite. The town’s journey proves that Cameroon’s path to sustainable urban development is not just a dream, it’s already happening.
Nkambe’s story stands as a vital beacon of hope at a time when climate change and rapid urbanization are putting unprecedented strain on towns and cities across Africa. This shows that the road to a sustainable future begins at the community level, demonstrating the strengths of local leadership, national policy, and community participation. From its hillsides and valleys, this small town is sending out a message with global resonance: the path to a sustainable future is already being walked.
