Understanding wildfire dynamics and hotspot intensity to foster forest landscape restoration in central Cameroon

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.