Climate Change and the Management of Natural Systems in Cameroon

Ndenecho Neba

Description

This book emphasises that planning is essential, as the conservation approaches of the past may not work in an ever-changing warmer environment. It appraises current management strategies, assesses the biological and physical effects of climate change on natural systems in Cameroon and designs a planning and management framework for each natural system within the context of global warming. Climate change poses a complex bewildering array of problems for ecosystems. The key question is, what can be done – in addition to efforts to reduce CO2 emissions – to increase the resistance and resilience of these natural systems to climate change? This book seeks to answer the above question by drawing from the vast array of scientific data available on the subject, and which may not be readily available to policy makers, resource planners, resource managers, environmentalists, students of geography, conservation biology and agronomy. It constitutes an important manual for those ready to confront the impacts of climate change. It is also a valuable document for teachers of the functioning and management of natural systems globally.

Informations

• Publié par: Langaa RPCIG
• Date de parution: 25 août 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9789956726615
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 18 Mo

Extrait

Climate Change and the Management of Natural Systems in Cameroon

Emmanuel Neba Ndenecho

Climate Change and the Management of Natural Systems in Cameroon Emmanuel Neba Ndenecho

Langaa Research & Publishing CIG Mankon, Bamenda

Publisher: LangaaRPCIG Langaa Research & Publishing Common Initiative Group P.O. Box 902 Mankon Bamenda North West Region Cameroon [e-mail] www.langaa-rpcig.net Distributed in and outside N. America by African Books Collective [e-mail] www.africanbookcollective.com

ISBN: 9956-717-78-9 ©Emmanuel Neba Ndenecho 2011

DISCLAIMER All views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Langaa RPCIG.

Dedication To Hilda with love

Table of Content Acknowledgements....................................................................................... v Preface........................................................................................................... vii 1. Global warming and development goals: an overview............................ 1 2. Climate change and rainforest ecosystem management.......................... 21 3. Climate change and mangrove ecosystem services................................ 47 4. Climate change and Sudan-Sahelian Savanna ecosystem Management................................................................................................. 69 5. Climate change and montane biodiversity management......................... 91 6. Climate change and management of coastal zone and marine ecosystems...................................................................................... 115 7. Climate change and management of riverine ecosystems.......................... 141 8. Climate change and wetland ecosystem management............................ 165 9. Climate change and management of physical barriers in riverine systems........................................................................................... 191 10. Climate change and management of protected areas............................. 213 11. Climate change and management of Lake Basin ecosystems................. 241 12. Management of observed and anticipated physical effects of climate change on Lake Chad.................................................................................. 263 13. Climate change and sustainability of traditional irrigation systems in dry lands..................................................................................................... 289 14. Climate change and development of rainfed agriculture....................... 311

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Acknowledged Contributions xProfessor Cornelius Lambi, Geography Department, University of Buea, Cameroon. xDr. Umar Aliyu Tambuwal, Department of Geography, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. xDr. P.A.O. Odjugo, Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. xHeinz and Johannes Weigmann Research Award Ecology 2008: acknowledged use of material from published papers authored by E.N. Ndenecho and C.M. Lambi: -Climate change and montane biodiversity status in Sub- Saharan Africa: Observations, problems and solutions for the Cameroon Highlands Ecoregion. -Climate change impacts on food security and water availability in Sub-Saharan African dry lands: Observations, problems and solutions for the Chad Basin, Cameroon. xWorld Wildlife Fund, Washington D.C. for the use of material from the book titled “Buying time: a User’s manual for building resistance and resilience to climate change in natural systems”. xDr. P.M. Oben and Dr. B.O. Oben for the realisation of Chapter Six. xThe use of material from an initial publication, that is, Biological Resource Exploitation in Cameroon. xMy students (past and present) for contributing to the climate change debate issues that motivated me to write this book. With support from many colleagues. v

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Preface As we embrace the new millennium, the threats to nature and biodiversity are unprecedented. Over the years some progress has been made in protecting biodiversity and hydrological systems. These have to some extent proved successful in some areas. However, these efforts are today facing new emerging threats. None of these threats is as great as global warming. The vast array of available scientific literature points to the fact that climate change will have large implications for the way natural resource managers plan and implement conservation strategies. Traditional natural resource conservation strategies with a focus on confronting human-related stresses on physical and biological systems will flounder in the face of climate change. The problem policy-makers, scientists and resource planners are facing is how to plan and implement strategies for increasing the resistance and resilience of natural systems to climate change. This is because climate change is seemingly difficult to understand and plan for. This book emphasis that planning is essential, as the conservation approaches of the past may not work in an ever-changing warmer environment. The book therefore appraises current management strategies, assesses the biological and physical effects of climate change on natural systems in Cameroon and designs a planning and management framework for each natural system within the context of global warming. Climate change poses a complex bewildering array of problems for ecosystems. The key question is, what can be done – in addition to efforts to reduce CO 2 emissions – to increase the resistance and resilience of these natural systems to climate change? This book seeks to answer the above question by drawing from the vast array of scientific data available on the subject, and which may not be readily available to policy makers, resource planners, resource managers, environmentalists, students of geography, conservation biology and agronomy. This book constitutes an important manual for those working in Cameroon, that is, those ready to confront the impacts of climate change. It is also a valuable document for teachers involved in the teaching of the functioning and management of natural systems at University level. Drawing from the expertise of several researchers and experts, the book addresses the major natural systems of Cameroon with practical ideas of how to begin increasing resiliency and of how to plan protected areas in response to the threat of climate change. Some of these strategies can simply be integrated in current management models. Climate change adaptation can therefore be built into current conservation philosophies and plans. It must be noted that, while far from comprehensive, this book brings together assessments and potential initial adaptation strategies for various natural vii