Wetland Dynamics, Trends and Environmental Implications: Comparative Study in Bamenda II and III Municipalities, North West Region, Cameroon

Year 2022, Issue: 45, 1 - 14, 30.12.2022

Mbanga Lawrence Akei , Dingha Chrispo Babilia

https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2022-980928

Abstract

Despite the loss of wetlands at varying degrees around the world, there is insufficient empirical information to elucidate the trajectories in wetland dynamics, especially in developing countries. As such, this study examines the trends in wetlands dynamics in the Bamenda II and III municipalities of Cameroon, analyzes the environmental implications, and investigates some adaptation and mitigation strategies to wetlands mutation seen in these areas. Data was collected from institutions and online sources, and supported by interviews, field surveys, and the administration of a questionnaire to 164 respondents. Satellite images were downloaded from USGS for 1980, 2000 and 2020. These were corrected, and processed in ArcGIS 10.3 using the interactive supervised classification tool and converted from raster to vector, permitting the production of LULC maps and automatic calculation of changes in wetland areas. Frequency and descriptive analyses was done in SPSS version 20 and Microsoft Excel 2016. The results indicate that wetlands decreased from 33.91 km2 to 28.58 km2 in Bamenda II and from 13.58 km2 to 9.09 km2 in Bamenda III from 1980 to 2020. This retreat of wetlands is associated with biodiversity loss, pollution and flooding, which are the basis for engineering and non-engineering adaptation measures.

Keywords

Wetlands dynamics, degradation, Bamenda II and III municipalities

Sulak Alan Dinamikleri, Eğilimleri ve Çevresel Etkileri: Kamerun’da Bamenda II ve III Belediyeleri için Karşılaştırmalı Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Sulak alanlar dünya çapında değişen oranlarda kaybedilmektedir. Ancak özellikle gelişmekte olan ülkelerde ise sulak alan dinamiklerinin durumunu açıklayan yetersiz ampirik bilgiler bulunmaktadır. Bu nedenle, bu çalışma Bamenda II ve III belediyelerinde sulak alan dinamiklerindeki eğilimi incelemiş, çevresel etkileri analiz etmiş ve sulak alan mutasyonuna uyum ve azaltma stratejilerini araştırmıştır. Veriler kurumlardan ve çevrimiçi kaynaklardan elde edilmiş, görüşmeler, saha araştırması ve 164 anketin yönetimi ile desteklenmiştir. Uydu görüntüleri 1980, 2000 ve 2020 için USGS’den indirildi. Bunlar düzeltildi ve etkileşimli denetimli sınıflandırma kullanılarak ArcGIS 10.3’te işlenmiş ve LULC haritalarının üretilmesine ve sulak alanlardaki değişikliklerin otomatik hesaplanmasına izin vermek için rasterden vektöre dönüştürülmüştür. Frekans ve tanımlayıcı analizler SPSS sürüm 20 ve Microsoft excel 2016’da yapılmıştır. Sonuçlar, 1980’den 2020’ye Sulak Alanların Bamenda II’de 33.91 km2 ’den 28.58 km2 ’ye ve Bamenda III’te 13.58 km2 ’den 9.09 km2 ’ye düştüğünü göstermektedir. Bu dinamikler, mühendislik ve mühendislik dışı uyum önlemlerinin temeli olan biyolojik çeşitlilik kaybı, kirlilik ve sel ile ilişkilendirilmiştir. Sulak alan dinamikleri aynı döngüyü takip etse de, sulak alan kaybı eğrisini kırmak için geliştirilen stratejiler bu değişimi farklı oranlarda yapabilmektedirler.

Keywords

Sulak alan dinamikleri, bozulma, Bamenda II ve III belediyeleri

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