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

Page 64

Photo 11: Fuel wood piled and used for cooking.
Source: Field work 2007

It is worth mentioning that in an ecosystem (like wetlands); the elimination of one factor like the vegetation cover is very detrimental to its functioning and even to its very existence. In Bamunka for example, a study on raphia palms revealed that this wetland vegetation was degrading from the area at a rapid rate of 1.6%, with the possibility of its elimination by the year 2043. It was also found out that it was due to the elimination of this vegetation cover that several wetland species are being lost in the area. This was attributed to a change in the micro-climatic conditions of the area, whose initial cool nature created a favourable habitat for several aquatic fauna species. But with the destruction of these trees, it was seen that these habitats were being lost, corresponding to a change in the ecosystem as a whole (Mphoweh J.N. 2006). In the same line, Tchindjang M. (1996) found out that the elimination of trees in wetlands like raphia equally eliminates wetland functions like that of water regulation and filtration.
Since the need for fuel wood, building materials, cultivable and habitable lands is ever present, the wetland vegetation cover of Ndop Central Subdivision stands very little chances of being conserved, let alone being regenerated.

2.2.1.5. Hunting, fishing and gathering activities

Looking at table 10 it can be found out that over 65% of the population of this region are, or were involved in the above activities either directly or indirectly. Hunting has for long been the mainstay of the people of this region. In all these villages, hunting was considered (before the 1960s) as a noble profession. Those who killed very large animals (like tigers, leopards, lions etc.) were decorated traditionally with a meritorious red feather of a turaco bird. These people therefore developed several hunting skills which facilitated hunting. Traps

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