Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon

Cordelia Givecheh Kometa

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13

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Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon

Cordelia Givecheh Kometa

Published in American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (Volume 4, Issue 2)

Received: 8 March 2019 Accepted: 23 April 2019 Published: 26 May 2019

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Abstract

This study discusses the evolution of climate change and the use of indigenous methods of flood control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon. The local farmers of the Ndop plain have developed and implemented extensive indigenous farming systems as adaptation strategies to reduce the vulnerability of climate variability over the years. However, these indigenous methods of flood control have not been sustainable enough to guard against severe flood incidences in the Ndop Plain as a result of climate change impact. This paper examines climate change evolution in the region and highlights some indigenous adaptation strategies practised in the Upper Nun Valley and the benefits of integrating such indigenous knowledge into formal climate change adaptation strategies. To ensure stability in food production and sustain food sufficiency in areas where local economies entirely depend on farming and the natural state of the environment, it is important to investigate the indigenous strategies put in place and the extent to which they combat floods in the Ndop Plain. Field surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, participant observation methods and secondary sources were used to collect data from selected villages where rice cultivation and market gardening products are on the increase. Based on climatic data for the region, the simple forecasting method using the forecasting line was used to predict future changes in climatic conditions for the region and the extent to which they may cause floods. The data collected were analyzed in both qualitative and quantitative terms to provide information for the discussion. The results reveal that changes in temperature and rainfall have altered the climatic conditions of the region leading to increased flood incidences in the Plain. The paper posited that a sustainable adaptation mechanism should take into consideration the widening of the drains as well as minimizing the cultivation of crops on the drains which serve as gateways to excessive water into the rice fields. The study also recommends the need to incorporate indigenous knowledge into climate change policies that can lead to the development of effective adaptation strategies that are cost-effective, participatory and sustainable.

Published in	American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (Volume 4, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13
Page(s)	56-66
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Climate Change, Floods, Indigenous Strategies, Upper Nun Valley

References

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[3]	FAO.(2008): Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Food and Agriculture Sector. (p. 17). Technical Background Document, Rome, Italy: FAO.
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[8]	IPCC (2007): Contribution of working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC – Summary for Policy Makers. Retrieved March 8, 2010 from http://www.ipcc.ch:
[9]	Kometa S. S. (2012): Flood Characteristics and Implication for Agriculture within the Ndop Plain, North West Region of Cameroon. in Journal of Applied Social Sciences, A Multidisciplinary Journal of Social Sciences, Volume 3, Number 1, pp 107.
[10]	Lambi C. M. (2001): The Bamendjin Dam of the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon; No Human Paradise. In Culture and Environment, A Reader in Environmental Education, Design House, Limbe, Cameroon. pp 223 – 231.
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[16]	Salick and Byg, (2007). Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change. Report of Symposium 2-13 April 2007. Tyndal Centre for Climate Change Research, Oxford, UK: A Tyndal Centre Publication available at http: //www.ecdgroup.com.docs/pdf.
[17]	Sharma, P. K (1989): Effect of Period Moisture Stress on Water-use Efficiency in Wetland Rice, Oryza,26:252-257.
[18]	Shemsanga, C., Omambia, N. A. and Gu, Y. (2010): The Costs of Climate Change in Tanzania. Impacts and Adaptations. Journal of American Science, Vol 6 (3), pp. 182-196.
[19]	Tata, E. S. (2016): Climate Variability and Wetland Exploitation in the Bui-Ngoketunjia Divisions of Cameroon: Development Implications, Unpublished PH.D Thesis, Department of Geography, University of Buea, pp 346.
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Cordelia Givecheh Kometa. (2019). Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon. American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 4(2), 56-66. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13

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ACS Style

Cordelia Givecheh Kometa. Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon. Am. J. Traffic Transp. Eng. 2019, 4(2), 56-66. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13

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AMA Style

Cordelia Givecheh Kometa. Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon. Am J Traffic Transp Eng. 2019;4(2):56-66. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13,
  author = {Cordelia Givecheh Kometa},
  title = {Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon},
  journal = {American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering},
  volume = {4},
  number = {2},
  pages = {56-66},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajtte.20190402.13},
  abstract = {This study discusses the evolution of climate change and the use of indigenous methods of flood control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon. The local farmers of the Ndop plain have developed and implemented extensive indigenous farming systems as adaptation strategies to reduce the vulnerability of climate variability over the years. However, these indigenous methods of flood control have not been sustainable enough to guard against severe flood incidences in the Ndop Plain as a result of climate change impact. This paper examines climate change evolution in the region and highlights some indigenous adaptation strategies practised in the Upper Nun Valley and the benefits of integrating such indigenous knowledge into formal climate change adaptation strategies. To ensure stability in food production and sustain food sufficiency in areas where local economies entirely depend on farming and the natural state of the environment, it is important to investigate the indigenous strategies put in place and the extent to which they combat floods in the Ndop Plain. Field surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, participant observation methods and secondary sources were used to collect data from selected villages where rice cultivation and market gardening products are on the increase. Based on climatic data for the region, the simple forecasting method using the forecasting line was used to predict future changes in climatic conditions for the region and the extent to which they may cause floods. The data collected were analyzed in both qualitative and quantitative terms to provide information for the discussion. The results reveal that changes in temperature and rainfall have altered the climatic conditions of the region leading to increased flood incidences in the Plain. The paper posited that a sustainable adaptation mechanism should take into consideration the widening of the drains as well as minimizing the cultivation of crops on the drains which serve as gateways to excessive water into the rice fields. The study also recommends the need to incorporate indigenous knowledge into climate change policies that can lead to the development of effective adaptation strategies that are cost-effective, participatory and sustainable.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon
AU  - Cordelia Givecheh Kometa
Y1  - 2019/05/26
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13
T2  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
SP  - 56
EP  - 66
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-8604
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13
AB  - This study discusses the evolution of climate change and the use of indigenous methods of flood control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon. The local farmers of the Ndop plain have developed and implemented extensive indigenous farming systems as adaptation strategies to reduce the vulnerability of climate variability over the years. However, these indigenous methods of flood control have not been sustainable enough to guard against severe flood incidences in the Ndop Plain as a result of climate change impact. This paper examines climate change evolution in the region and highlights some indigenous adaptation strategies practised in the Upper Nun Valley and the benefits of integrating such indigenous knowledge into formal climate change adaptation strategies. To ensure stability in food production and sustain food sufficiency in areas where local economies entirely depend on farming and the natural state of the environment, it is important to investigate the indigenous strategies put in place and the extent to which they combat floods in the Ndop Plain. Field surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, participant observation methods and secondary sources were used to collect data from selected villages where rice cultivation and market gardening products are on the increase. Based on climatic data for the region, the simple forecasting method using the forecasting line was used to predict future changes in climatic conditions for the region and the extent to which they may cause floods. The data collected were analyzed in both qualitative and quantitative terms to provide information for the discussion. The results reveal that changes in temperature and rainfall have altered the climatic conditions of the region leading to increased flood incidences in the Plain. The paper posited that a sustainable adaptation mechanism should take into consideration the widening of the drains as well as minimizing the cultivation of crops on the drains which serve as gateways to excessive water into the rice fields. The study also recommends the need to incorporate indigenous knowledge into climate change policies that can lead to the development of effective adaptation strategies that are cost-effective, participatory and sustainable.
VL  - 4
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Cordelia Givecheh Kometa

Department of Topography and Real Estate Management, Higher Technical Teachers’ Training College, University of Buea, Kumba, Cameroon

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Cordelia Givecheh Kometa. (2019). Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon. American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 4(2), 56-66. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13

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ACS Style

Cordelia Givecheh Kometa. Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon. Am. J. Traffic Transp. Eng. 2019, 4(2), 56-66. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13

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AMA Style

Cordelia Givecheh Kometa. Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon. Am J Traffic Transp Eng. 2019;4(2):56-66. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13,
  author = {Cordelia Givecheh Kometa},
  title = {Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon},
  journal = {American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering},
  volume = {4},
  number = {2},
  pages = {56-66},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajtte.20190402.13},
  abstract = {This study discusses the evolution of climate change and the use of indigenous methods of flood control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon. The local farmers of the Ndop plain have developed and implemented extensive indigenous farming systems as adaptation strategies to reduce the vulnerability of climate variability over the years. However, these indigenous methods of flood control have not been sustainable enough to guard against severe flood incidences in the Ndop Plain as a result of climate change impact. This paper examines climate change evolution in the region and highlights some indigenous adaptation strategies practised in the Upper Nun Valley and the benefits of integrating such indigenous knowledge into formal climate change adaptation strategies. To ensure stability in food production and sustain food sufficiency in areas where local economies entirely depend on farming and the natural state of the environment, it is important to investigate the indigenous strategies put in place and the extent to which they combat floods in the Ndop Plain. Field surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, participant observation methods and secondary sources were used to collect data from selected villages where rice cultivation and market gardening products are on the increase. Based on climatic data for the region, the simple forecasting method using the forecasting line was used to predict future changes in climatic conditions for the region and the extent to which they may cause floods. The data collected were analyzed in both qualitative and quantitative terms to provide information for the discussion. The results reveal that changes in temperature and rainfall have altered the climatic conditions of the region leading to increased flood incidences in the Plain. The paper posited that a sustainable adaptation mechanism should take into consideration the widening of the drains as well as minimizing the cultivation of crops on the drains which serve as gateways to excessive water into the rice fields. The study also recommends the need to incorporate indigenous knowledge into climate change policies that can lead to the development of effective adaptation strategies that are cost-effective, participatory and sustainable.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon
AU  - Cordelia Givecheh Kometa
Y1  - 2019/05/26
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13
T2  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
SP  - 56
EP  - 66
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-8604
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20190402.13
AB  - This study discusses the evolution of climate change and the use of indigenous methods of flood control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon. The local farmers of the Ndop plain have developed and implemented extensive indigenous farming systems as adaptation strategies to reduce the vulnerability of climate variability over the years. However, these indigenous methods of flood control have not been sustainable enough to guard against severe flood incidences in the Ndop Plain as a result of climate change impact. This paper examines climate change evolution in the region and highlights some indigenous adaptation strategies practised in the Upper Nun Valley and the benefits of integrating such indigenous knowledge into formal climate change adaptation strategies. To ensure stability in food production and sustain food sufficiency in areas where local economies entirely depend on farming and the natural state of the environment, it is important to investigate the indigenous strategies put in place and the extent to which they combat floods in the Ndop Plain. Field surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, participant observation methods and secondary sources were used to collect data from selected villages where rice cultivation and market gardening products are on the increase. Based on climatic data for the region, the simple forecasting method using the forecasting line was used to predict future changes in climatic conditions for the region and the extent to which they may cause floods. The data collected were analyzed in both qualitative and quantitative terms to provide information for the discussion. The results reveal that changes in temperature and rainfall have altered the climatic conditions of the region leading to increased flood incidences in the Plain. The paper posited that a sustainable adaptation mechanism should take into consideration the widening of the drains as well as minimizing the cultivation of crops on the drains which serve as gateways to excessive water into the rice fields. The study also recommends the need to incorporate indigenous knowledge into climate change policies that can lead to the development of effective adaptation strategies that are cost-effective, participatory and sustainable.
VL  - 4
IS  - 2
ER  -

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