Drivers causing decline of mangrove in West-Central Africa: a review

Feka, Njisuh Z.; Ajonina, Gordon N.

doi:10.1080/21513732.2011.634436

Cited by 75 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…It can be seen that at the local and global levels, respondents acknowledged that mangrove deforestation and degradation is ongoing due to their activities (amongst which we have wood harvesting for fish smoking and cooking). These results support the work conducted by some researchers (Ajonina and Usongo, 2010;Feka and Ajonina, 2011;Feka et al, 2009). Especially, at the local level (except in Mbiako), many people (for example, non-indigenes etc.)…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Bumpy road to improved mangrove resilience in the Douala Estuary, Cameroon

Jean-Hude¹,

Gordon²,

Mbarga³

et al. 2016

J. Ecol. Nat. Environ.

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Mangrove stands in the Western and Central African countries especially that of Cameroon are declining due to diverse drivers. Actually, Rhizophora racemosa stands in the Cameroon Estuary have been degraded through over-exploitation for fish smoking, pole-wood extraction and fuel wood harvesting by local people in the midst where there is no specific law protecting this ecosystem. Recently, community-based mangrove replanting efforts facilitated by the Cameroon Wildlife Conservation Society in the Douala-Edea Reserve (DER), all dominated by over 80% foreigners was carried for the period of 14 months. These communities out-planted only close to 4 ha (40%) of degraded mangrove compare to the initiate target of 10 ha. In a bid to understand the reason for not meeting the targeted goal, the perceptions of local communities geared towards mangrove restoration were assessed through a questionnaire survey, which was administered to a stratified random sample of 400 people, with 100 individual per village (Mbiako, Youme II, Yoyo I and II). The outcome revealed different levels of perception. Overall, a significant proportion that is, 34.5% (P<0.005, Rs=0.155) rated mangrove forest as very "little degraded"; 52.5% (P<0.005, Rs = -0.099) favoured its restoration; while 60.8% (P<0.005, Rs=-0.199) were not aware that mangrove could be nursed to restore degraded areas. Participation in nursery-out planting activities was significantly varied as 89.8% (P<0.005, Rs=-0.210) never participated in the process, of which 78.8% (P<0.05, Rs=0.161) conditioned their participation on some factors which includes greater sensitisation, more training and incentives. Recommendations ranged from putting in place a community day for mangrove, delineation of roles and responsibilities of members in committee, to graduated sanctions for disturbance of restored sites by guided rules.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Bumpy road to improved mangrove resilience in the Douala Estuary, Cameroon

Jean-Hude¹,

Gordon²,

Mbarga³

et al. 2016

J. Ecol. Nat. Environ.

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“…Douala, the largest city in Cameroon borders the mangroves to the East and the mangroves are a significant resource to local communities through fishing, hunting and especially logging for fuelwood and charcoal [47,48,49]. On the southern shore of the Cameroon Estuary is the Douala-Edea Wildlife Reserve, with a total area of 1,600 km 2 [53].…”

Section: Environmental Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vulnerability to Climate Change of Mangroves: Assessment from Cameroon, Central Africa

Ellison

Zouh

2012

Biology

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Intertidal mangrove ecosystems are sensitive to climate change impacts, particularly to associated relative sea level rise. Human stressors and low tidal range add to vulnerability, both characteristics of the Doula Estuary, Cameroon. To investigate vulnerability, spatial techniques were combined with ground surveys to map distributions of mangrove zones, and compare with historical spatial records to quantify change over the last few decades. Low technology techniques were used to establish the tidal range and relative elevation of the mapped mangrove area. Stratigraphic coring and palaeobiological reconstruction were used to show the longer term biological history of mangroves and net sedimentation rate, and oral history surveys of local communities were used to provide evidence of recent change and identify possible causes. Results showed that the seaward edge of mangroves had over two thirds of the shoreline experienced dieback at up to 3 m per year over the last three decades, and an offshore mangrove island had suffered 89% loss. Results also showed low net sedimentation rates under seaward edge mangroves, and restricted intertidal elevation habitats of all mangroves, and Avicennia and Laguncularia in particular. To reduce vulnerability, adaptation planning can be improved by reducing the non-climate stressors on the mangrove area, particularly those resulting from human impacts. Other priorities for adaptation planning in mangrove areas that are located in such low tidal range regions are to plan inland migration areas and strategic protected areas for mangroves, and to undertake management activities that enhance accretion within the mangroves.

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“…The social value here refers to the qualitative and nonmonetary appreciation by local communication in the form of cultural ecosystem services and socio-cultural values attached to other ecosystem services and biodiversity. Mangroves are declining and degrading rapidly all over the world, as a result of continuous conversion into alternative land use and increasing human population pressure (Spalding et al 2010;Feka & Ajonina 2011). This conversion can be largely attributed to the lack of appreciation of the many ecosystem services mangroves provide (Walters et al 2005;Iftekhar 2008).…”

Section: Social Value Of Mangrovesmentioning

confidence: 99%