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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 5
The research focuses on Ndop Central Subdivision for three main reasons as follows:
-The fact Ndop Central Subdivision that exists as a “central place” to other neighbouring regions due to its many administrative functions which cannot be found elsewhere in the division. Bamunka is the headquarters of two administrative sub units, i.e. the capital of the Ngoketunjia division and that of Ndop central subdivision. Other amenities like schools, health centres, clinics, hotels, banks, money transfer agencies, market centres amongst others, go a long way to justify why this region attracts a large influx of people from other areas .This area consequently has the largest number of actors involved in transforming its wetlands.
- This area equally has two types of wetlands (according to Ramsar Classifications); to note here (as earlier mentioned) is a man made wetland and an inland wetland, corresponding to the area covered by the Bamendjin reservoir and the flood plains respectively. The impact of the reservoir in degrading and/or maintaining the wetlands of this region is an important aspect in this research.
- Finally, Ndop Central Subdivision hosts the head quarter of the Upper Noun Valley Development Authority (UNVDA) which is an important actor in wetland degradation through its activities of promoting extensive mechanised rice cultivation. The largest rice fields under this scheme were first developed in Ndop Central Subdivision.
Based on these three main reasons, we found this research worthwhile under-taking.
1.3. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Wetlands were long considered by most societies as mosquito-infested, mucky, dangerous and unhealthy places. Due in part to these misconceptions, over half of the world’s wetlands were destroyed since the 1900s (WWF,2004).They were drained and reclaimed for agricultural activities, housing developments, industrial complexes; meanwhile some were used as dumping sites for household and hazardous wastes. These practices have led to wetland loss and degradation in several regions of the world. Such as in North America, where the US National Wetland Inventory reported a 53% loss between the 1780s and the 1980s, (Dahl, 1990). Some states like Ohio and California had record highs of 90% and 91% respectively. In Canada, the National Wetlands Working Group (1988), reported wetland losses and degradation as follows: 65% for the Atlantic tidal and salt marshes, 70% for the Lower Great lakes to St. Lawrence River Show line marshes and swamps, up to 71% for prairie potholes and sloughs and 80% for the Pacific coast estuary wetlands. Mexico on its part has recorded a 35% loss in its original wetland surfaces.
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