Analysis of Vulnerability Hotspots in Landcover for Momo Division, North West Cameroon

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue IX, September 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

 Analysis of Vulnerability Hotspots in Landcover for Momo Division, North West Cameroon

Tassah Ivo Tawe^1*, Ndifon Franshua Becha², Henri Yambene Bomono^3
1Department of Economics and Environmental Science, National Centre for Education, Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Yaoundé-Cameroon
²Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Buea-Cameroon
³National Centre for Education, Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Yaoundé-Cameroon
*Corresponding author

Abstract:-There is an overwhelming and compelling evidence that land cover mutation is a substantial contributing threat to the vulnerability of land resources to levels where, the cost of restoration has become too colossal and in some cases almost impossible. This paper establishes an early warning signal that uncovers a key constraint contributing to the vulnerability in social-environmental systems in land resource dependent communities. It provides a baseline that draws the attention of development stakeholders and land resource users to sustainable land resource exploitation and planning for rural development.
Landsat images with the help of Geographic Information System applications combined with ground truth verifications formed a valid approach to ascertain the nexus in land cover types and threat in vulnerability in land parcels across the landscape. A mapping design was established to illustrate the vulnerability hotspots within each Sub-division.
Results indicates that, the hydrological cover, montane forest and built-up land respectively are faced with the greater threat to vulnerability. Stressors initiating changes in the land parcels were observed to be population pressure, the size of land cover, climate variability, farming practices, weak policies and institutional regulations amongst others increases the susceptibility of land parcels to fragility and vulnerability. The study reveals that, land resource exploitation practices are largely subsistence and the area is void of any land use planning. The proportion of land parcels exposed to threat of vulnerability are expanding since most of the landscape presents a fragile status and land resource users persist with impunity, practices that are unsustainable. Multiple socio-environmental challenges are gaining prominence in the area thus, reducing the viability for livelihood enhancement, sustainable growth and development. Therefore, prioritizing policy recommendations indicate that more concern should be focused on the hydrological cover, montane forest and built-up land respectively. Land use planning and sustainable land management is recommended for integrated rural sector development by all stakeholders especially in this era of decentralization in Cameroon.

Keywords: Analysis, Vulnerability hotspots, land cover, Momo-division, North West Region, Cameroon

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