article · Geo-spatial Information Science
Wildfire dynamics in central Cameroon, specifically across Yoko and Nanga-Eboko, were tracked between 2003 and 2023 using satellite remote sensing and spatial statistics. Satellite datasets measuring burned area and active fires were processed using Google Earth Engine alongside spatial clustering tools to pinpoint vulnerable areas. Over the two decades, fire intensity reached up to 2651.7 hectares, with densities up to 10.89 fires per square kilometre. Long-term trends indicate an overall expansion in burned areas despite a decrease in the number of active fire events. Fire activity peaks significantly between October and December, recording an average monthly burned area of 1629.70 hectares. Furthermore, spatial assessments show significant clustering of high-intensity fire zones, particularly outside formally protected areas. These patterns underscore the need for targeted landscape restoration and enhanced fire mitigation planning.
Wildfires in Sub-Saharan Africa present a persistent threat to forest ecosystems and the natural regulation they provide. Pinpointing seasonal peaks and high-risk zones outside protected reserves gives resource managers clear geographic priorities. Recognising that overall burned areas are growing despite fewer individual fire events allows authorities to design better fire mitigation strategies and allocate landscape restoration funding where damage is most concentrated.
The spatial analysis framework could inform environmental monitoring dashboards or risk-mapping services used by land management authorities, forestry agencies, and conservation organisations. Because the abstract reports descriptive research using existing satellite datasets and geospatial tools rather than a dedicated tool or product, real-world operational use remains at an early applied stage requiring software engineering and formal integration into environmental management programmes.
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Natural resources, particularly forests, are vital for ecosystem regulation but face threats like wildfires, increasingly common in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study evaluates wildfire intensity in central Cameroon (Yoko and Nanga-Eboko) from 2003 to 2023 using geospatial techniques, based on burned area (MCD64A1) and active fire (MCD14DL and Near Real-Time, NRT) images classification. Remote sensing tools like Google Earth Engine (GEE), Moran’s I, and Getis-Ord [Formula: see text] hotspot analysis identified vulnerable areas. Results reveal fire intensities of 49.5–2651.7 ha, with densities of 0–10.89 fires/km2. Temporal trends show increasing burned areas but declining active fires, confirmed by Mann-Kendall and Sen’s slope tests. Anomalies highlight increases of 3.5 ha and two additional fires during specific periods. Fire-prone months are October, November, and December, with an average monthly burned area of 1629.70 ha. Spatial analyses reveal clustering of high-intensity zones, especially outside protected areas (Moran’s I = 0.009081; p < 0.001). These findings highlight the urgent need for improved fire mitigation strategies and landscape restoration to safeguard ecosystems.
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DOI: 10.1080/10095020.2026.2717967
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