Wetland Management in Cameroon: Challenges and Prospects

This seminar introduced policies, challenges and prospects of wetland management in the country of Cameroon. Topics included: The Ramsar Convention (a treaty recognizing Wetlands of International Importance) of which Cameroon has seven Wetlands of International Importance (Lake Chad Basin, Waza Logone Floodplain, the Ebogo Wetlands were highlighted) with four wetland sites are currently undergoing the process to be added to Ramsar); How the Ramsar application process resulted in implementation of a communication network, support for mapping and gathering wetland data, development of political, legal and technical wetland management and protection tools and target for future activities (i.e. adoption of a national plan and mapping national wetlands); Case study of urban wetlands of Yaounde VII Subdivision utilizing quantitative and qualitative data analyses, literature review, remote sensing and GIS data to gain insight on public perceptions of wetlands, different types of wetlands, the impact of urban settlement of wetlands from 2007-2017, agriculture impacts to wetlands, data from waste disposal and presence of typhoid fever, landcover changes, and proposed buffers for sustainable urban wetland management; Recommendations to the central government to implement a participatory approach with multiple stakeholders, strong wetland laws and institutional framework, the utilization of geospatial tools, the creation of wetland buffer zones and sufficient financing of research projects to enhance sustainable urban wetland management.

Kongnso Wiylahnyuy Edith is a PhD fellow at the University of Bamenda, Cameroon, and is a researcher at the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI) / National Institute of Cartography in Cameroon. She applies GIS and remote sensing in natural resource management and environmental protection with a focus on wetlands.