CHAPTER ONE

THE CONTEXT OR BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The global water cycle is a complex process that involves the movement of water between the atmosphere, ocean and land. Water covers 71% of the earth surface and thus vital to life (Annan 2005). About 96.5% is ground water stored in sea and ocean over 1.7% and 1.7% is in the form of glacier and ice caps in the Arctic and Antarctic circle. Alterations to the global water cycle can have significant impact on the environment and Human population (Weyman 1977). Globally, water cycle can be altered through various ways which includes human activities like Agriculture, urbanization and climate change and many others. Different countries use different amount of water but we all use water for the same purpose.

The expansion and intensification of agriculture, urbanization and climate change on catchment area has significant impact on catchment area in that agricultural land use of the word changes had led to an increase in run off and sedimentation which can cause flooding and degraded water quality. Urbanization refers to the process of increasing urban populations and the expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural areas. This process has had major impacts on catchment areas, including increased water demand and pollution. Urbanization has increased impervious surfaces, leading to more stormwater runoff and less groundwater recharge. Climate change has altered precipitation patterns, leading to more extreme weather events and changes in hydrology. The impacts of these three factors on catchment areas are complex and interrelated, and the effects are still being studied and understood.

IN Africa, the expansion and intensification of agriculture has had several impacts on catchment areas in Africa. it has increased the demand for water resources, putting pressure on existing water supplies and leading to the depletion of groundwater reserves. It has also led to increased soil erosion and nutrient loss, which can have long-term consequences for the productivity of the land. In addition, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has increased the risk of water pollution and the spread of invasive species. On the urbanization front, the growth of cities has led to increased water consumption, as well as the generation of more wastewater. This has put additional stress on water resources, and has also increased the risk of flooding and other water-related disasters. Finally, climate change has had a number of impacts on catchment areas in Africa, including increased rainfall variability, more frequent and severe droughts, and sea level rise. These impacts have made it more difficult to manage water resources and protect against flooding and other disasters.

These same issues play out in Cameroon, but with some unique challenges. One of the biggest issues is that most of the country’s population is rural, with around 70% living in rural areas. This means that there is a lot of pressure on the land, as people try to meet their basic needs through agriculture. This has led to deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution. In addition, urban areas like Yaoundé and Douala are rapidly growing, which puts even more pressure on water resources and infrastructure. Climate change is also having a significant impact, with droughts and floods becoming more common. In light of all of this, it’s clear that there are some major challenges facing catchment areas in Cameroon. However, there are also some opportunities for improving water management and reducing the negative impacts of agriculture, urbanization, and climate change. For example, improved land management practices, such as agroforestry, can help to improve soil health and reduce erosion. Water conservation and efficiency measures can help to reduce water demand and improve resilience to drought. And, by planning for climate change and increasing the capacity of infrastructure, we can reduce the risks of flooding and other disasters.

IN the Tubah subdivision, the expansion and intensification of agriculture has led to the clearing of forests for farming. This has caused soil erosion and reduced the amount of water available for downstream communities. It has also led to pollution from pesticides and fertilizers, which has damaged aquatic ecosystems and drinking water supplies. Urbanization is also putting pressure on the catchment area, as population growth and the expansion of cities leads to more water consumption and wastewater discharge. Climate change is exacerbating these problems, with more frequent droughts and floods leading to water shortages and infrastructure damage. there are a number of efforts underway to address these challenges, including programs to improve land management practices, increase water conservation, and build resilience to climate change. These efforts are being undertaken by a variety of organizations, including the government, NGOs, and the private sector. So, while there are still challenges, there is also cause for hope.

1.1 The presentation of internship institution

The internship was carried out in ozone friendly people for a period of one month. OFP is a nongovernmental organization which is located at Nkwen mile 3 in Bamenda 2 North West Region of Cameroon. During the internship period, the following activities were carried out by the interns which will be examine in two weeks of the internship was created by law NO 90/053 of 19 December 1990. It was created by prefectorial order NO 977 of 26th February 1994 as OZONE FRIENDLY PEOPLE with objective of using the natural landscape to enhance the socio-economic wellbeing of the population.

During the first week of the internship, we had several sessions of seminar and meeting’s which aimed was to provide us the knowledge on the institution which is one of the oldest NGO which was explain to us by our field supervisor DR Hycenth and Mr. Paul Akaba. The meeting was considered as an engagement for the environmental management that is having a passion for the sustainable environment and natural resources and project. Some proposals were made at the meeting.

During the second week, the various activities carried out was grouped under different services of the OFP which will be examined in the preceding paragraph. The first activity that we carryout was in the nursery which included lectures on the names of tree types, observations, uses of these tree species which included; EUCALYPTUS, PRUNUS AFRICANA, IROKO AND VOACANGA AFRICANA, MAHOGANY. In the nursery, we were tutored on how the different tree species are been planted and propagated till maturity stage for planting. In the nursery, we were taught the different propagation techniques which included GRAFTING AND MARCOTTING, which was explained and done in a small piece of land.

During the third week of the internship, we visited the filter tank, from the plate above, about 12tons of sand is being used to filter the water for finally consumption in town(community). Many questions were asked like why is sand being used and how is it used?? Sir Paul gave mind blowing answers. Secondly, we also visited the gravel filter tank where gravel is been shifted and the water send to the sand filter. We later when to the intake tank where the water enters and send to the gravel filter tank and lastly was at the hot spring where we saw wonder of the nature, the hot spring water was very worm, salty and energetic .it is found in Ntumi Bambui mile 10 North West Region of Cameroon. The most aspect of the phenomenon is that beside the host spring, the is a stream which is cool but the hot spring is worm and salty.

The last week of the internship which is the fourth weeks, we were ask to write a report on what we have study and recommendations on how we can improve in water protection and the problems face by the catchment and hot spring.

1.2 Objective 

• Protect water source and provide water
• Planting of tress in water catchment areas
• Management and protection of forest and catchment protection
• Control of compliance with regulation in the field of forestry by various stakeholders
• Enhance the purification of water for consumption
• To maintain the catchment nature and tank water properly clean