Qualitative and quantitative characterization of
mangrove vegetation structure and dynamics is required
for assessment of coastal habitat vulnerability. Changes in
mangrove forests around Douala, Cameroon, have been
documented using aerial photography between 1974 and
2009. The distribution pattern of tree species was also
assessed in 2009 following the point-centered quarter method
(PCQM+) protocol. Pristine mangroves observed in 1974
had been disturbed markedly in 2003 and 2009. Some of the
pre-existing mangroves were entirely replaced by settlements,
road, and crops (maize, bean, banana, oil palm, green
vegetables, and sugar cane plantations). From 1974 to 2003,
39.86 % of mangrove forests have disappeared; the net loss
of 22.10 % occurred between 2003 and 2009 alone. Mangrove
forest area had decreased 53.16 % around Douala
over a 35-year period from 1974 to 2009 concurrent with
a substantial increase of settlements (60 %), roads
(233.33 %), agriculture areas (16 %), non-mangrove areas
(193.33 %), and open water (152.94 %). Field survey
showed that almost one third of the quadrants in the
remaining mangrove forest were empty. The disruptedmangrove forest has an overall mean height, absolute density,
and basal area of 19.80 m, 158 trees ha , and
110.44 m2 ha-1, respectively. In comparison with scientific
literature on mangrove degradation, this puts the mangroves
around Douala at the top of the ‘'‘peri-urban mangrove
degradation” list. In addition, beyond listing of mangrove
plants on the Red List of Threatened Species which will
seldom lead to widely distributed species being listed, we
call for the creation of a Red List of Locally Threatened
Ecosystems, which in contrast is likely to list mangroves as
an ecosystem under critical risk of (local) extinction in many
countries around the globe, in particular, peri-urban sites.