81
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation,
Coastal Research Library 21, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56179-0_3
Chapter 3
Impact of Urbanization on the Evolution
of Mangrove Ecosystems in the Wouri River
Estuary (Douala Cameroon)
Ndongo Din, Vanessa Maxemilie Ngo-Massou,
Guillaume Léopold Essomè- Koum, Eugene Ndema-Nsombo,
Ernest Kottè-Mapoko, and Laurant Nyamsi-Moussian
Abstract Cameroon mangroves are protected over 20 years by both Management
of Forest and Fauna and Environmental Management Legal Framework laws.
However, these juridical tools are not efficient in the field regarding the rate of mangrove forest depletion around coastal cities in the country. This work aims to identify the main factors of mangrove degradation and to assess their effects on the
dynamics and evolution of this ecosystem in relation with city development. Key
abiotic parameters are favorable for mangrove progression. Natural disasters and
anthropogenic activities have been identified as responsible of mangrove ecosystems depletion. Wood harvesting, urban settlement and infrastructures, sand extraction, petroleum exploitation, coastal erosion, and climate change appear to be the
most important factors of mangrove degeneration. Secondary destructive factors
such as dwellings, sustenance agriculture, collection of Non-Timber Forest Products,
digging, landfill, dyke construction and large clear-felling also contributed widely
to mangrove degradation. The realization of state projects had heavily impacted the
N. Din (*) • G.L. Essomè-Koum • E. Kottè-Mapoko • L. Nyamsi-Moussian
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala,
8948, Douala, Cameroon
e-mail: din.ndongo@yahoo.com; essomekoum@gmail.com; mapokoernest@yahoo.fr;
nyamsimoussian@gmail.com
V.M. Ngo-Massou
Department of Biological Sciences, High Teacher’s Training College, The University of
Yaounde I, 47, Yaounde, Cameroon
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala,
8948, Douala, Cameroon
e-mail: vanmaxlie@yahoo.fr
E. Ndema-Nsombo
Department of Aquatics Ecosystem’s Management, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic
Sciences, The University of Douala, 7236, Douala, Cameroon
e-mail: Ndema_eugene2002@yahoo.fr
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation,
Coastal Research Library 21, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56179-0_3
Chapter 3
Impact of Urbanization on the Evolution
of Mangrove Ecosystems in the Wouri River
Estuary (Douala Cameroon)
Ndongo Din, Vanessa Maxemilie Ngo-Massou,
Guillaume Léopold Essomè- Koum, Eugene Ndema-Nsombo,
Ernest Kottè-Mapoko, and Laurant Nyamsi-Moussian
Abstract Cameroon mangroves are protected over 20 years by both Management
of Forest and Fauna and Environmental Management Legal Framework laws.
However, these juridical tools are not efficient in the field regarding the rate of mangrove forest depletion around coastal cities in the country. This work aims to identify the main factors of mangrove degradation and to assess their effects on the
dynamics and evolution of this ecosystem in relation with city development. Key
abiotic parameters are favorable for mangrove progression. Natural disasters and
anthropogenic activities have been identified as responsible of mangrove ecosystems depletion. Wood harvesting, urban settlement and infrastructures, sand extraction, petroleum exploitation, coastal erosion, and climate change appear to be the
most important factors of mangrove degeneration. Secondary destructive factors
such as dwellings, sustenance agriculture, collection of Non-Timber Forest Products,
digging, landfill, dyke construction and large clear-felling also contributed widely
to mangrove degradation. The realization of state projects had heavily impacted the
N. Din (*) • G.L. Essomè-Koum • E. Kottè-Mapoko • L. Nyamsi-Moussian
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala,
8948, Douala, Cameroon
e-mail: din.ndongo@yahoo.com; essomekoum@gmail.com; mapokoernest@yahoo.fr;
nyamsimoussian@gmail.com
V.M. Ngo-Massou
Department of Biological Sciences, High Teacher’s Training College, The University of
Yaounde I, 47, Yaounde, Cameroon
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala,
8948, Douala, Cameroon
e-mail: vanmaxlie@yahoo.fr
E. Ndema-Nsombo
Department of Aquatics Ecosystem’s Management, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic
Sciences, The University of Douala, 7236, Douala, Cameroon
e-mail: Ndema_eugene2002@yahoo.fr