TITLE:
Local Perception of Climate Change and Adaptation in Mangrove Areas of the Cameroon Coast
AUTHORS:
Ndongo Din, Vanessa Maxemilie Ngo-Massou, Guillaume Léopold Essomè-Koum, Ernest Kottè-Mapoko, Jean Michel Emane, Akusa Dorice Akongnwi, Richelieu Tchoffo
KEYWORDS:
Anthropogenic Activities, Investigation, Prediction, Risks, Vulnerability
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Water Resource and Protection,
Vol.8 No.5,
May
27,
2016
ABSTRACT: Mangroves
supply essential ecosystem services to tropical informal economies. In the
Cameroon coastal region, the impacts of various projections on change in
temperatures and precipitations sound low compared to the pressure of human
activities. This survey evaluated the sensitivity of local population on the
impact of climate change and the vulnerability of coastal ecosystems. An investigation
carried out on 425 individuals was based on the major income and development activities,
the knowledge of the subject, the information sources, the origin of changes,
perceptible effects, risks and consequences. More than 90% of interviewees have
heard about climate change essentially from radio (20%). Industries (47.53%)
are perceived to have major responsibility for temperature (78%) and
precipitation (67%) changes and increased inundation (39.07%) was perceived as the
highest risk. Compared with Cartesian predictions in the area, the results have
shown the sensitivity of population to local variation of climate factors. No
efficient endogenous measure has been recorded. Forest and specially mangroves
are the most affected ecosystems by local activities. Expected extension of the
dry season could affect the natural regeneration and the structure of mangrove
forests. Considering the importance of woody species in the local economies,
the lack of appropriate actions and adaptation measures will lead to the total
degradation of mangroves.