WETLANDS; A SOLUTION TO WATER CRISIS

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.

Once more, the rains have come drums are full, and crops are green and many of us have forgotten about yesterday. What about tomorrow? It might be worse than yesterday let’s think of our wetlands as a solution to the rapidly increasing “WAHALA”.