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Theme: THE DEGRADATION OF WETLANDS AND ITS SOCIO ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS IN NDOP CENTRAL SUBDIVISION, NORTH WEST PROVINCE CAMEROON

Ngwa (1979) carried out studies on swamp rice production in the North West province. The first activities of rice cultivation right up to its large production under the U.N.V.D.A were seen as an important socio-economic sector in the region. The U.N.V.D.A is also seen as an important actor in the floodplains through the introduction of heavy machinery in the development of rice fields and drainage canals.
            Agricultural practices in the region are equally seen as a major peasant occupation in the works of Nkwemoh, (1999), Pangmashi, (1999) and Duma, (1999).These activities are responsible for the food security and abundance prevalent in the region. This success is enhanced by the favourable edaphic and climatic factors which also prevail in the region. However, with an increase in the population density, new farming strategies have been adopted and are seen to be detrimental to the environment and the natural vegetation cover. An example is the practice of bush burning, intensive use of fertilizers and seasonal food crop rotation in the wetlands, which gives no opportunity for the natural vegetation cover to regenerate (Kisife, 2007)
            Mbanga (2002, 2004), studied community participation and rural development in the area. The efforts of local groups in the domains of health, infrastructural development and above all agriculture were seen as vital for the development of this region.
            A socio-anthropological and historical study was undertaken by Valondeng, (2000) and Wana, (2003) respectively. These studies traced the origin of the people of this region, their settlement patterns, inter-chiefdom relationships and some of their activities. These studies also give an idea about the installation of human groups around some wetland sites in the area.
            Research, principally focussed on wetlands is still a novelty in this region. However, Akendo (1998), Forpah, (2004) and Koghan, (2004) have carried out research on the ecological values and functions of the wetlands of this region. The implications of related land use practices on the wetlands of the area were also addressed, with special focus on wetland functions which generate an income. In the same line, Tanteh, (2004) carried out a historical overview of fishing activities in and his studies showed that this activity’s total production evolved towards a decrease due to the decline in fish in the area.

Looking at existing literature on wetlands, it shows that several aspects on the theme have been addressed by different authors. Issues on wetland degradation and loss, factors accounting for such losses, as well as associated problems, have been seen to exist in several parts of the world. The same situation applies to Cameroon which has joined the band wagon. In the area of study, some problems have been addressed in domains related to agriculture,