Environment

Natural Resource Management

Bamenda Highlands—a region at the northern end of the Cameroon Mountain Chain—is a biodiversity hotspot and the largest remaining section of Afromontane Forest in West Africa. the area supports 10 endemic reptiles, 55 endemic amphibians, 6 endemic mammals and around 100 rare/endemic plant species. Many of the plants and animals in the region are restricted in range, with a number of them classified as threatened. The World Wildlife Fund has defined this area as one of its top 200 worldwide Ecoregions for its concentration of 35 restricted-range endemic bird species, making it the third richest ecoregion for birds in mainland Africa . A compilation of data from Interactive Atlas, indicated that 50% of forest habitat loss in Cameroon have been recorded in the north of Bamenda Highlands in 15 years (1988- 2003), leading to average loss of species population of 30% in 100 years.

The Bamenda Highlands have one of the highest population densities in Cameroon (~300 people per km2). The establishment and expansion of oil palms, rubber, coffee, cocoa plantations lead to clear-cutting vast expanses of vegetation and destabilising local biodiversity balances. Just a few fragmented forests remain with their previous biological diversity. Many large mammals including the elephant, loin, and giraffe have already gone extinct in this savannah region.

Inhabiting populations have increasingly relied on destructive farming tactics such as soil-burning as a means of quick vegetation regeneration; these have led to the destruction of vast areas of forest cover.  As soil fertility drops there is further encroachment into forests. Soil erosion has increased especially in the slopes leading to siltation of rivers in the valleys, water sources are drying up and there are constant crop failures.

The area had been historically shared, with overlapping claims of ownership and some blurring of boundaries tolerated. Limited conservation measures are applied as a result of informal and competing sites of governance. There is a lack of economic incentives, awareness of forest values, and lack of capacity for suitable forest management plans. Equally, the complexity in forestry law and regulations make the task a taunting and often unachievable one.

Critical biodiversity areas are not being protected due to an incomplete and incoherent protected area network, incomplete information on biodiversity and its distribution, and lack of capacity for management. Land continues to be overgrazed and resources overused, expediting the loss of regional biodiversity.

Water, Sanitation, Hygiene

Water management and sanitation systems reduce hygiene of small communities in the Bamenda region. Specifically, poor sanitation disproportionately endangers women who require access to clean water for menstrual hygiene management and regular, daily hygiene. Initiatives including ‘WASH Programmes’ are shown to be effective to collecting gender disaggregate data, and implement effective programmes to increase accessibility to clean water regularly.

3.3 Waste Management

Lack of waste management infrastructure in Bamenda city is resulting in widespread waste dumping, littering, and pollution. It is estimated 237 tonnes per day are unmanaged, dumped, or burned each day[1]. 88% respondents from a recent survey report dumping waste within 500m of their homes. This behaviour creates unhygienic living conditions and illness; 43% of these respondents reported common sickness in their households.

However, workshop, documentation, and technological intervention are shown to be effective in (1) understanding unsustainable waste patterns and (2) intervening through educational workshops and solution building. Complexity in navigating public services that should be provided can be supported by professional advocacy and support.

Changepoints:

  • Waste and pollution management plans
  • Community management of Bamenda Highlands through collaborative Protected Areas
    • Reducing unsustainable land practices
    • Biodiversity conservation