Yaoundé’s rapid urban expansion is threatening the green spaces that once provided residents with recreation, cooling, and environmental protection. Between 1984 and 2024, the Cameroonian capital expanded from 85 square kilometers to 469 square kilometers, while wooded areas declined from 28.6% of its land cover to just 5.4%. Cameroon suffers from housing shortages, much of which is concentrated in Yaoundé. Because of the gap between demand and supply, many informal settlements sprung up, usually over the valleys, wetlands, and hillsides of the city. Yaoundé’s residents are now pushing back and working to restore the city’s greenery. One movement sees people build small gardens in available spaces, including abandoned plots. Another set of people have identified 10 potential reforestation sites.