Only about 30% of the population of Cameroon has access to
pipe born water. The rest rely on streams, springs, lakes and rivers.
This has been a sustainable source of water for centuries.
But growing population and human activities have degraded many wetland.
Few days back, prolonged dryness, insufficient rainfall and
higher temperatures worsened the scarcity of such natural water.
Concerned on how to find sustainable solutions to
climate-induced water scarcity is a mechanism at the most local levels.
While some communities are forced to migrate or pay to get
water, others are trying to protect and regenerate degraded wetlands.
Buea, with its geometric population increase of more than
200,000 inhabitants is also a victim to this dilemma despite been situated at
the foot of Mount Cameroon.
While villages within the municipality rely on their wetlands
which is more sustainable during the dry season, the urban communities clearly
disregard the initiative.
The city duelers, highly dependent on pip born water, has transform
one of the most reliable source of good drinking water (stream) into car wash
centers thus reducing the vital purpose of such wetlands.
