The Environmental Quadrupole: Forest Area, Rainfall, CO2 Emissions and Arable Production Interactions in Cameroon

Abstract

Aims: This paper evaluates the interactions between forest area, CO 2 emissions, rainfall and arable production at a national scale in Cameroon. Methodology: The data used for this analysis was essentially time series data for all the variables spanning the period 1961-2000. It uses regression analysis to determine the most important of these variables that affects CO 2 emissions and uses correlation analysis and coefficient of determination to verify the nature of the interactions between the variables. Results: The results show that as forest area reduces there is an increase in CO 2 emissions concentration in the air in Cameroon. On the other hand, as forest area and rainfall reduce arable production also reduces but forest area is seen to be more responsible for changes in arable production than rainfall. Conclusion: The study concludes that the interactions between CO 2 and forest area, arable production and forest area seem to be the most significant while rainfall is denoted as very variable from year to year.