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3.5 Evolution of Douala City and Mangrove Degradation
3.5.1 Effects of State Projects
The implementation of projects for the urbanization of the city of Douala is one of
the worst factors to mangrove conservation of the Wouri estuary river. The Douala
city’s urban plan had foreseen in the 1990s, the extension of the present “Boulevard
Général Leclerc” to Bonamoussadi (northern part of the city). Its implementation
should involve the disappearance of all coastal mangrove patches on the left bank of
the Wouri river. In the same project, it provides a bridge that connects Bonamoussadi
to Bonendale through Bonamatoumbè and Djebalè. That project combined with the
“Sawa Beach project” will be an environmental disaster for the mangroves of the
Wouri river estuary (Din 2001). The above projects are actually being executed. The
predictions seem to be exact and the disappearance of mangrove stands are effective
(Fig. 3.15). The construction of roads alone will cause a sharp reduction in mangrove areas. Building the bridges will result in more reduction surfaces, the deviation of the supply channels, blocking channels that feed the mangrove substrate and
the installation of population. The construction of road infrastructure has an impact
on the general aspect of the vegetation and structure of tree characteristics that
match senescent stands where swamp forest species invade sites.
Fig. 3.14 (continued)
3 Impact of Urbanization on the Evolution of Mangrove Ecosystems…
3.5 Evolution of Douala City and Mangrove Degradation
3.5.1 Effects of State Projects
The implementation of projects for the urbanization of the city of Douala is one of
the worst factors to mangrove conservation of the Wouri estuary river. The Douala
city’s urban plan had foreseen in the 1990s, the extension of the present “Boulevard
Général Leclerc” to Bonamoussadi (northern part of the city). Its implementation
should involve the disappearance of all coastal mangrove patches on the left bank of
the Wouri river. In the same project, it provides a bridge that connects Bonamoussadi
to Bonendale through Bonamatoumbè and Djebalè. That project combined with the
“Sawa Beach project” will be an environmental disaster for the mangroves of the
Wouri river estuary (Din 2001). The above projects are actually being executed. The
predictions seem to be exact and the disappearance of mangrove stands are effective
(Fig. 3.15). The construction of roads alone will cause a sharp reduction in mangrove areas. Building the bridges will result in more reduction surfaces, the deviation of the supply channels, blocking channels that feed the mangrove substrate and
the installation of population. The construction of road infrastructure has an impact
on the general aspect of the vegetation and structure of tree characteristics that
match senescent stands where swamp forest species invade sites.
Fig. 3.14 (continued)
3 Impact of Urbanization on the Evolution of Mangrove Ecosystems…