MODERN THREATS TO NATURAL FOREST LANDSCAPES IN THE SOUTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON: THE CASE OF THE CAMEROON MOUNTAIN

Abstract

The article reviews the natural and anthropogenic factors that have influenced the rapid deforestation and degradation of the forest landscapes of the Mount Cameroon ecosystem. One of the greatest riches of Cameroon in addition to mineral exploitation is the moist evergreen equatorial forest. This forest ecosystem is known for its high degree of speciation, biological diversity and very high biological productivity in the Guinea-Congolese regional zone of endemism. However, this ecosystem has not been very stable over the past decades. The forest has witnessed significant damages due to some natural and anthropogenic activities. These activities range from unsustainable agricultural practices, uncontrolled and spontaneous growth of infrastructures. This has led to the continuous degradation of the forest cover to the extent that there is a complete disappearance of vegetation cover. This has serious consequences on the soils through accelerated erosion and leaching, displacement of wild animals, destruction of microorganisms, accelerated dryness of springs and small streams, thereby, worsening the impact of climate change.The study therefore, analyzes the vegetation structure of the Cameroon mountain (mangrove, lowland/foot-hills and montane/afromontane forest landscapes) and reviews the natural and anthropogenic factors that impact the forest landscape. Furthermore, analysis of the dynamics, transformation and changes within a period of 50 years (1965-2015) will equally be studied.The methodology used in this work is descriptive, analytic and comparative. Secondary data from satellite images were used to study the land use dynamics in 1978, 2000 and 2015The results of our findings revealed that a combination of natural and human factors has reduced the forest landscape of this eco-region to about 79%. But man in particular has raped huge tracks of forest landscapes for his selfish economic gains without making any commensurate effort for their sustainability and conservation. It is however obvious that such irrational use of nature takes place against the background of the lack of professional organization of the territory and programs for the use of forest resources. The rational use, protection and preservation of forests and forest landscapes is the basis for the harmonious development of the natural environment, which is based on modern scientific and practical structural and geographical research. This study therefore, proposed some urgent environmental strategies to rescue this eco-region from further degradation.