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The city’s development projects have caused the loss of biodiversity of the mangroves of the Wouri river estuary with the loss of species in the Mboussa Essengue
area include Cassipourea barteri (Hook. f. ex Oliv.) N.E. Br., and a proliferation of
Nypa fruticans. The latter species is experiencing exponential colonization of the
areas. The completion of several state projects had heavily impacted the evolution
of mangroves in the Wouri estuary river. Ultimately, these achievements certainly
cause the disappearance of important mangrove areas.
3.5.2 Effects of Demographic Pressure
In addition to a high rate of natural increase, estimated at 29‰, Douala receives
each year, according to estimates from the Urban Community, a minimum of
120,000 new inhabitants. So it is every year more than 200,000 people in addition
to the population, an increase of nearly 7%.
This significant demographic pressure leads to uncontrolled land use and therefore to the appearance of vast squatter settlements in mangrove areas (Fig. 3.16) and
in swampy areas at risk. These spontaneous settlements not geometrized, the almost
non-existent social and health infrastructure are precarious living conditions. Dense
populations living there in promiscuity exposed to any health risks resulting from
urbanization deficit and aggravating themselves the environmental degradation
especially of mangrove ecosystems.
The development of these areas begins with the clearing of mangrove and continues with the blocking of channels that feed more or less saline substrate. The
latter action is very harmful to these mangroves formation because it causes a dryness that causes the substrate in addition to the physiological drought, natural or
climatic drought. This means of conquering new spaces has been used in many
localities of the city of Douala including Mboussa Essengue, Youpwe, Bois-desSinges, Bobongo and Bonaberi (Fig. 3.16a).
When the water supply channels of the substrate are created, herbaceous plants
quickly disappear as soon as the water environmental conditions become unfavorable. The area is gradually replaced by species swamp forests (Alchornea cordifolia, Anthocleista vogelii) and later herbaceous plants of mainland settled, marking
the disappearance of mangroves (Din 2001).
3.5.3 Effects of Poverty
Like many other countries, Cameroon has experienced in the 1990s, a severe economic crisis that has resulted in numerous job losses and income for the people. This
has not been a favorable factor for the development of mangroves. Helping economic
calculations, it was easy to understand that the free surfaces such as mangroves were
predilection sites since the cost of the development was below the purchase or lease
3 Impact of Urbanization on the Evolution of Mangrove Ecosystems…
The city’s development projects have caused the loss of biodiversity of the mangroves of the Wouri river estuary with the loss of species in the Mboussa Essengue
area include Cassipourea barteri (Hook. f. ex Oliv.) N.E. Br., and a proliferation of
Nypa fruticans. The latter species is experiencing exponential colonization of the
areas. The completion of several state projects had heavily impacted the evolution
of mangroves in the Wouri estuary river. Ultimately, these achievements certainly
cause the disappearance of important mangrove areas.
3.5.2 Effects of Demographic Pressure
In addition to a high rate of natural increase, estimated at 29‰, Douala receives
each year, according to estimates from the Urban Community, a minimum of
120,000 new inhabitants. So it is every year more than 200,000 people in addition
to the population, an increase of nearly 7%.
This significant demographic pressure leads to uncontrolled land use and therefore to the appearance of vast squatter settlements in mangrove areas (Fig. 3.16) and
in swampy areas at risk. These spontaneous settlements not geometrized, the almost
non-existent social and health infrastructure are precarious living conditions. Dense
populations living there in promiscuity exposed to any health risks resulting from
urbanization deficit and aggravating themselves the environmental degradation
especially of mangrove ecosystems.
The development of these areas begins with the clearing of mangrove and continues with the blocking of channels that feed more or less saline substrate. The
latter action is very harmful to these mangroves formation because it causes a dryness that causes the substrate in addition to the physiological drought, natural or
climatic drought. This means of conquering new spaces has been used in many
localities of the city of Douala including Mboussa Essengue, Youpwe, Bois-desSinges, Bobongo and Bonaberi (Fig. 3.16a).
When the water supply channels of the substrate are created, herbaceous plants
quickly disappear as soon as the water environmental conditions become unfavorable. The area is gradually replaced by species swamp forests (Alchornea cordifolia, Anthocleista vogelii) and later herbaceous plants of mainland settled, marking
the disappearance of mangroves (Din 2001).
3.5.3 Effects of Poverty
Like many other countries, Cameroon has experienced in the 1990s, a severe economic crisis that has resulted in numerous job losses and income for the people. This
has not been a favorable factor for the development of mangroves. Helping economic
calculations, it was easy to understand that the free surfaces such as mangroves were
predilection sites since the cost of the development was below the purchase or lease
3 Impact of Urbanization on the Evolution of Mangrove Ecosystems…