This thesis examines the driving forces of land use change and their effects on watershed functions in the Mount Cameroon ecological region. It identifies population growth, deforestation, agriculture, climate change, tourism, and urbanization as putting pressure on the mountain watershed and threatening water supply. The study analyzes secondary data and consults natural resource management organizations working in the area. Results show degradation of the watershed constrains sustainable development. The analysis aims to inform future research and the need to establish watershed institutions and policies to manage the watershed sustainably long-term.

1. Dedication
I dedicate this desertification to my lovely wife, Mrs. Tansah Bongabi Adeline who was able to
withstand my absence during the study period. This dedication is also to my late mother; Mama
Susana Ngwanchang who gave me the green light into the professional world.
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2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First, I would like to thank the almighty Father who gave me good health and knowledge to be
able to present an account of my studies in PAID-WA.
I am heartily thankful to my Supervisor, Dr. Mbue whose encouragement, guidance and support
from the initial to the final level enabled me to develop an understanding of the subject. I am
sure it would have not been possible without his help.
I would also like to acknowledge and extend my heartfelt gratitude to the following persons who
have made the completion of this thesis possible:
- The Director, Mrs. R.B. Thompson for her encouragement and support,
- Our Dean, Dr. Fongort Kinni for his vital contribution during the selection of the topic.
- Mrs. Mba, the Regional Delegate of MINFOF and Coordinator of PSMNR and Mr. Frank
Stenmanns, the Co-coordinator of the programme for providing me with relevant
materials (project reports) and access into many workshops and seminars organised
during my research period.
- I will also like to thank in a special way Mr. Peter Kruezinger, GIZ Technical Adviser for
Infrastructure working for PSMNR-SW for his special support.
Lastly, I offer my regards and blessings to my family and friends and all of those who supported
me in any respect during the completion of the project.
Gamnje Tansah John
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3. Certification
Title of the thesis: Date: 29.05.2012
FACTORS DRIVING LAND USE CHANGE AND THE EFFECTS ON WATERSHED
FUNCTIONS IN THE MOUNT CAMEROON ECOLOGICAL REGION
Author: Gamnje Tansah John
This thesis is hereby accepted and approved.
Signatures:
Examining Committee:
Chair: Dr. Echu
Members: Professor Lambi
Dr. Halley
Dr. Kinnin Menghot
Dr. Ndoh Mbue Innocent
Dr. Barga Rolan Azibu
Mrs. R.B Thomson
Mrs. Besong Clara
Academic advisor: Dr. Kinni Fongort
Director PAID-WA: Mrs. R.B Thomson
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4. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
Dedication …………………………………………………………………………….………….. i
Acknowledgement ………………………………………………………………………………..ii
Certification ………………..………………………………………………..…………………..iii
Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………………… iv
List of Acronyms …………………………………………………………………………….… vii
List of tables ……………………………………………………………………….....…………ix
List of figures ……………………………………………………………………….....……..…xi
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………….….. xiii
Chapter One: General Introduction……………………………………………………..…….1
1.1 Background Information…………………………………………………………………… 1
1.2 Research approach…………………………………………………………………………. 4
1.3 Significance of the study………………………………………………………...…….…… 4
1.4 The scope and limitations of the research……………………………………..……………5
1.5 Thesis Outline……………………………………………………….......……………………6
Chapter Two: Literature (Relevant) Review………………………………………………….7
2.1 The concepts of watershed and water catchments……………….………..………………7
2.2 Watershed management ……………………………….……………..………………………8
2.3 Water functions …………………………………….……………………………………..…8
2.4 The concept of land degradation …………………………………………………………….9
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5. 2.5 Proximate and underlying driving forces of land degradation………………………. …..11
2.6 Impact of environmental degradation ……………………………………….…………… 12
2.7 Methods of monitoring land degradation …………………………………………….. …13
Chapter Three: Background of the Study Area …………………………………………….15
3.1. Location …………………………………………………………………………………..15
3.2 Climate ……………………………………………………………………………………..16
3.3 Topography ………………………………………………………………………………….18
3.4 Soil and Geology …………………………………………………………………………….18
3.5 Vegetation Type ……………………………………………………………………………..19
3.6 Economic Activities …………………………………………………………………………19
3.7 Demographic data ………………………………………………………………………….19
3.8 Culture ……………………………………………………………………………………..21
3.9 The Roles and Responsibilities of the Institutions ………………………………………….23
Chapter Four: Methodology……………………………………………….…………………25
4.1. Research Design and Data Collection Methods ………………………………..………..25
4.3 Data Collection Techniques ……………………………………………………….………27
4.4 Data analysis ……………………………………………………………………………....31
Chapter Five: Results and Discussion ……………………………………………………….32
5.1 Personal Information ……………………………………………………………………...32
5.2 Household Characteristics…………………………………………………………………37
5.3 Political Economic Factor……………………………………………………..,…………..43
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6. 5.4 Ecological Factors……………………………………………………………….…………50
5.5 Institution and legislation factors …………………………………………………………51
5.6 Conservation…………………………………………………………………..……………53
5.7 Water Supply ………………………………………………………………………………65
Chapters Six: Conclusion and Recommendation …………………………………......…….74
6.1 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………74
6.2 Recommendations …………………………………………………………………………74
References …………………………………………………………………………….……….77
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7. LIST OF ACRONYMS
WWF World Wide Fund for nature
WCS Wildlife Conservation Society
GIZ German International Cooperation
PSMNR-SW Programme for the Sustainable Management of Natural
Resources in the South West Region of Cameroon.
MINFOF Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife
FAO Food and Agricultural Organisation
UNEP United Nations Environmental Program
TREES Tropical Ecosystem Environment Observations by Satellites
RS Remote Sensing
GIS Geographic Information Systems
CAMWATER Cameroon Water Cooperation
PAID-WA Pan African Institute for Development, West Africa
UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
LULCC Land Use and land cover Change
GEOSS Global Earth Observation System of systems
CDC Cameroon Development Corporation
KFW Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau
VDP Village Development Plan
HH Household
MOCAP Mount Cameroon Prunus Management Common Initiative Group
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8. NTFP Non Timber Forest Products
TOU Technical Operation Unit
GFA Consulting Group managing the Programme’s Funds
LUCC Land Use Cover change
viii

9. List of tables
1. Institutions involved with roles and responsibilities
2. Focus group interviews
3. Data collection methods
4. Respondents on education by residence
5. Respondent by village authority
6. Respondents by occupation
7. Respondents by residence
8. Coverage of Sample Household
9. Household size trend
10. Population and ethnic group distribution
11. Residence by age group
12. Respondents by equal rights
13. Village weekly markets
14. Prices of main cash crop in the area
15. Comparative prices of Cocoa, Oil palm and Banana.
16. Respondents on Incentives
17. Types of forest vegetation
18. Statistics of forest cover (Source, PSMNR-SWR)
19. Details of some drinking water schemes in the watershed.
20. Respondents on water quality
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10. 21. Respondents on water quality by gender
22. Respondents on water quality by village authority
23. Respondents on regular supply of water
24. Respondents on regular supply of water by gender
25. Respondents on regular supply of water by village authority
26. Water schemes with established WMCs
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11. List of figures
1. Research approach
2. Organisation of the Thesis
3. Underlying driving forces and proximate causes of land degradation
4. Location map of Mt. Cameroon region
5. Average High/Low Temperature for Limbe
6. Average Rainfall for Limbe, Cameroon
7. The high percentage of agricultural malpractices has led to the subsequent
degradation of the land and depletion of soil nutrients around the Mount Cameroon
region.
8. Ethnic composition
9. Elephant dance
10. Intervening villages and clusters
11. Respondents by age group
12. Respondents by gender
13. Respondents by education
14. Cocoa the main cash crop in the area (from processing to packaging)
15. Land cover map, 1987.
16. Land cover map, 2002
17. Land cover map, 2010
18. Floods and loss of property during heavy rains
19. Movement on the street is difficult with floods after rainfall
20. Regular bush burning practiced on a yearly basis by hunters.
21. Farm encroachment with plantain plantation
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12. 22. Timber exploitation at about 1500m ASL
23. Researcher with Bonakanda Chief and some members of the village
24. Water source at 2800m ASL
25. Buea Municipal water catchment (Grazing and farming around water catchment area)
26. Buea Municipal water supply (The only available quantity as of 6th
December,
2011)
27. Main supply pipe suspended without water
28. New dwellings influenced by population increase
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13. Abstract
Over the last three decades, upland watersheds have come under increasing threat. Pressure from
population growth, deforestation, unhealthy agricultural practices, global warming, tourism and
urbanization are all taking their toll on mountain watershed and putting the supply of the world’s
freshwater at risk (Mountain Initiative for Climate Change). Due to the above situation, land-use
and land-cover change has become a central component in current strategies in managing natural
resources and monitoring environmental changes. The purpose of this study is therefore to
identify the Driving Forces of Land Use Change and their effects on the Watershed functions of
the mount Cameroon ecological region using modern tools and techniques like remote sensing
(RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) for modelling. The analysis will serve as a basis
for identifying needs for future research in this area. Today the degraded watershed is amongst
the greatest constraints to sustainable development within the mountain region. As well,
watershed institutions have to be established and water resources policies developed and
enforced towards the management of the watershed. The methodology adopted for this case
study consists of a review of available secondary sources of data such as project documents,
evaluation reports, workshop proceedings and field surveys. Also the professional staffs of
WWF, WCS, and GIZ working under the Programme for Sustainable Management of Natural
Resources in the South West Region were consulted. The results and analysis should pave a way
to developing a long term conservation strategy that should enhance the sustainable management
of the Mount Cameroon watershed.
Key Words: Deforestation, Land degradation, Agriculture, Landscape, Urbanisation.
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