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bare soil, thus causing degradation of the environment. This activity is becoming
increasingly important in Cameroon estuary (Fig. 3.10) due to the ever increasing
demand of export sand towards Equatorial Guinea.
The surroundings and the main river beds are mined mainly in Douala and Tiko.
The amount of sand taken is important and mangrove areas especially offer a wide
variety of sand quality (fine sand to pebbles). In the 1990s, over 50% of the sand
used in the city of Douala for various constructions derived from mangrove areas
(Din 2001). The sand mining appeared to be an important economic activity which
involved both the informal sector and dredging societies from public works. When
Fig. 3.10 Sand quarry in Douala degraded mangrove forest (a) partition of sands and gravels operation near a channel; (b) loading of a truck with mangrove sand near Rhizophora and Avicennia trees
N. Din et al.
bare soil, thus causing degradation of the environment. This activity is becoming
increasingly important in Cameroon estuary (Fig. 3.10) due to the ever increasing
demand of export sand towards Equatorial Guinea.
The surroundings and the main river beds are mined mainly in Douala and Tiko.
The amount of sand taken is important and mangrove areas especially offer a wide
variety of sand quality (fine sand to pebbles). In the 1990s, over 50% of the sand
used in the city of Douala for various constructions derived from mangrove areas
(Din 2001). The sand mining appeared to be an important economic activity which
involved both the informal sector and dredging societies from public works. When
Fig. 3.10 Sand quarry in Douala degraded mangrove forest (a) partition of sands and gravels operation near a channel; (b) loading of a truck with mangrove sand near Rhizophora and Avicennia trees
N. Din et al.