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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 71
2.2.1.8 A change in land tenure policies and local laws
As seen earlier, the people of Ndop Central Subdivision originated from the same ethnic group in the Ndobo area of the Adamawa province. In spite of their long history of migration, power struggle and the reconstitution of sovereign villages, these people have several cultural aspects in common. The traditional setup and land tenure policies show similarities in almost every respect. In this region in the years before and up to the 1970s, land was not sold but was simply an issue of succession from generation to generation. Every household was allocated a piece of land for cultivation or habitation by sub-chiefs or quarter heads (called ¨tienteh¨ in Bamunka). Once acquired, a piece of land becomes the property of the family in question. The land is effectively occupied and can no longer be an object of trespass. However, the years following the 1970s were marked by an increase in population due in part to the increase in administrative functions of the area and above all the creation of agricultural agencies like the B.P.D.A, U.N.V.D.A., and N.W.D.A. amongst others. The increase in population and human activity was marked by an influx of people from diverse ethnic backgrounds like the Bafut, Kom, Fulani, Baya, Bamileke; to mention a few. The presence of these people meant their occupation of land and probably the introduction of new cultures and behaviours. This is evident from the fact that land is today bought and sold in this region. Buying and selling of land is not discriminatory on individuals belonging to one ethnic group or another .This has led to the permanent possession of land by non-natives who do not take traditional norms into consideration during the cultivation or occupation of these lands. This is responsible for the destruction of several sacred forests and trespass on other areas which were once considered as sacred (Mphoweh.J.N, 2005). Furthermore, the wetlands which were not originally occupied for any purpose have become strategic farmlands. The arrival of people from different areas with different farming techniques has led to practices like the draining of wetlands during rainy periods, meanwhile during the dry season; wells are dug in some areas. The technique of digging wells is mostly practiced by people from Bamoun who are versed with vegetable, tomatoes and cucumber cultivation during the dry season. The Fulani on their part are reputed for trespassing with their cattle herds during the dry season into areas which are normally considered as sacred. This attitude has led to conflicts in some cases between the local population and/or traditional authorities and the Fulani cattle herdsmen. (Tanten.G.C 2005).
These practices earlier seen go a long way to highlight the change in land tenure policies from an earlier period when traditional policies exerted a cohesive force on almost
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