Land Cover and Land Use Changes between 1986 and 2018, and Preliminary Carbon Footprint Implications for Manoka Island (Littoral Region of Cameroon)

Claude Tatuebu Tagne, Denis Jean Sonwa, Abdon Awono, Moustapha Njayou Mama, Evariste Fongnzossie, Riddley Ngala Mbiybe, Lydie Flora Essamba à Rim and Rufin Dominique Ntja
Additional contact information
Claude Tatuebu Tagne: Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé P.O. Box 755, Cameroon
Denis Jean Sonwa: Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Messa, Yaoundé P.O. Box 16 317, Cameroon
Abdon Awono: Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Messa, Yaoundé P.O. Box 16 317, Cameroon
Moustapha Njayou Mama: Fondation Pour le Tri-National de la Sangha, Yaoundé P.O. Box 35 372, Cameroon
Evariste Fongnzossie: Advanced Teacher’s Training School for Technical Education, The University of Douala, Douala P.O. Box 1872, Cameroon
Riddley Ngala Mbiybe: Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé P.O. Box 755, Cameroon
Lydie Flora Essamba à Rim: Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Messa, Yaoundé P.O. Box 16 317, Cameroon
Rufin Dominique Ntja: Cameroon Ecology, Edea P.O. Box 791, Cameroon

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: Land and resource use patterns in coastal areas play a key role in the resilience of ecosystems and populations to climate change. Knowing their spatiotemporal dynamics therefore constitutes a strategic tool to help decision-makers. Based on documentary research, geographic information system (GIS), image processing, and field work, this article maps land use on Manoka Island between 1986 and 2018 and identifies the drivers of change and avenues for intervention with a view to strengthening climate change mitigation. The results show a decrease of 4% in forest area on Manoka Island, representing an average of 112 ha of inland forest and 267 ha of mangrove converted between 1986 and 2018. This increases the degraded forest area by 268% (degraded mangrove and degraded inland forest) and exposes some camps to erosion and flooding. Reduction in forest area is mainly linked to the harvesting of fuelwood and the conversion of forests into farmland and residential areas. Settlements have increased in area from 15 ha in 1986 to 90.4 ha in 2018 to the detriment of natural spaces.

Keywords: cartography; forest; mangrove; coastal areas; forest and mangrove degradation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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