U-Reporters Use Reforestation to Fight Floods
In Cameroon’s Far North, where recurring floods weaken communities, young U-Reporters have chosen to take action and lead change on the ground.
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A sustainable response to a climate emergency
Floods, exacerbated by climate change, destroy crops and homes every year and cause mass displacement. Faced with this threat, the U-Reporters decided to take action: between July and September 2025, they planted 1,500 trees in strategic areas of the municipalities of Maga, Kousseri, Yagoua, Logone Birni, Bogo, Maroua and Moutourwa.
This initiative, part of the Anticipatory Action (AA) project funded by the German Government, aims to restore local ecosystems, reduce erosion and improve water regulation.
"Planting these trees is our way of safeguarding our future," says Abraham, a U-Reporter in Maroua.
For Samira, "We want to show our community that we have a say and that we can contribute to a better environment."
Why reforestation is essential
Trees stabilise the soil, absorb some of the rainfall and slow down runoff, thereby limiting flash floods. They promote water infiltration and act as natural barriers, protecting farmland and homes. Every tree planted becomes a bulwark against climate disasters and a step towards more resilient communities.
"Every tree planted is a step towards a more secure future."
A movement that inspires
This initiative sparked widespread enthusiasm: local associations and other young people joined the movement.
"Every tree planted is a step towards a more secure future," says Idriss, a member of OJECAD. Beyond its ecological impact, the AA project strengthens the capacities of U-Responders through innovative educational tools, such as the climate education game, to raise awareness among communities about the risks of flooding.
An integrated approach to resilience
The Anticipatory Action (AA) project is based on a comprehensive strategy that combines several levers to strengthen communities' resilience to climate disasters. Reforestation, led by U-Reporters, reduces erosion and improves water regulation, but it is accompanied by other essential measures: the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLINs) to 10,000 people to prevent malaria, cash transfers to 3,000 vulnerable households to enable them to better prepare for floods, and community co-creation workshops to design appropriate local solutions. This combination of initiatives illustrates a holistic approach in which health prevention, economic support and environmental education reinforce each other.
The Anticipatory Action project empowers young people by positioning them at the centre of its initiatives. It transforms U-Reporters into genuine agents of change who can take action before a crisis occurs, helping to create safer and more sustainable communities. This project is supported by the Federal Foreign Office and the German Government, whose dedication to enhancing community resilience against climate-related disasters deserves commendation.
