CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

The chapter will be focused on the following sub headings: background of the study, statement of the research problem, research questions which are the main and specific research questions, the research objectives comprising the main and specific objectives, research hypothesis, incorporating the main and specific research hypothesis. The chapter equally look at the scope of the study, significance of the study, justification of the study, study area which encompasses location and size, relief and drainage, climate, vegetation, geology and soils, population and growth pattern, socio economic activities and the conclusion of the chapter. 

1.1 Research context or Background of the study

Land and land resources are naturally occurring finite resources which provides the base for the survival of living beings. Land resources encompasses the physical, biotic, environmental, infrastructural and socio-economic components of a natural land unit, including surface and near-surface freshwater resources important for management (FAO, 2014). The management of land resources often results to conflicts which could either be inter or intra village conflicts in most societies.  Land and land resources issues are almost never the sole cause of conflicts. Land resources conflicts results from its management (Nkonya et al. 2010).

 Land Resources according to UN report 2017 is defined as delineable areas of the earth’s terrestrial surface, including all attributes of the biosphere immediately above or below this surface, including those of the near-surface climate, the soil and terrain forms, the surface hydrology (including shallow lakes, rivers, marshes and swamps), the near-surface sedimentary layers and associated groundwater and geo-hydrological reserve, the plant and animal populations, the human settlement pattern and physical results of past and present human activity like terracing, water storage or drainage structures, roads, buildings.

Globally, land resources management is the implementation of land use planning, as agreed between and with the direct participation of stakeholders. It is achieved through political decisions; legal, administrative and institutional execution; demarcation on the ground; inspection and control of adherence to the decisions; solving of land tenure issues; settling of water rights; issuing of concessions for plant and animal extraction (timber, fuel wood, charcoal and peat, non-wood products, hunting); promotion of the role of women and other disadvantaged groups in agriculture and rural development in the area, and the safeguarding of traditional rights of early indigenous peoples (World Bank, 2006). It is equally thought to be a knowledge-based procedure that helps integrate land, water, biodiversity and environmental management including input and output. The UN report (2013), reveals that land resources management and land resources planning is the process of evaluation of options and subsequent decision-making which precedes implementation of a decision or plan involving structural and biological methods which are sustainable to promote economic and social status of the people and sustainable exploitation of land resources (FAO, 2014).

In the developed world, China land resources are divided into plateau, mountain, grassland, plain, forest, but not all land resources are easily available. Available land resource are grassland, cultivated land, and forest, while land resource like desert and others are not easily available to agriculture production, which take up about 20 % of the total land as reported by Hu and Jieren. (2011). In Canada, land resource management is the act of caring for a resource effectively. It consists of the philosophies, sciences, laws and regulations by which people and the natural environment interact. While many different resource management practices exist, all recognize the responsibility of human beings to maintain natural resources. In India, Land and land resource management is the day-to-day management and administration of reserve lands, environment, and resources. It generally includes activities related to the benefit of use and development of land for individual, collective, and economic purposes supported by the Australian Government (2011). 

In the developing world, land resources and land resources management are the most critical challenges of countries in this region today. The exploitation of high-value natural resources, including oil, gas, minerals and timber has often been cited as a key factor in triggering, escalating or sustaining violent conflicts in this region.  The mismanagement of land and land resources is contributing to new conflicts and obstructing the peaceful resolution of existing ones. LRM in this continent is done within the framework of the nexus between natural resources management and inter conflict management. It uses a multi-actor and multi-level approach in dealing with LRs and inter conflicts (UNO, 2012).

In Africa, land has mystical quality. Land is the basis of many life support systems through the production of biomass that provides food, fodder, fiber, fuel, timber and other biotic materials for human use (Edward Kato et al. 2010). This production function of land is vital because many African countries rely on primary products for export. In most African countries, over 70% of the population derive their livelihood from the land (Ezigbo and Onyebuchi. 2010).

 In Cameroon, land resources include freshwater (lakes, rivers and ground water), trees and forest, minerals (bauxite, cobalt, iron, nickel and uranium), grazing lands, agricultural lands and land and soils. The management of land resources in this country becomes a zone or a center for conflicts entitlements which are either inter village, farmers grazer conflicts and even tribal conflicts especially border resources (Kimengsi et al., 2018). LRM involves different stakeholders with different interests and responsibilities. The rural community’s role in management is very primordial. However, decision making, planning, implementing and evaluating the projects carried out on these resources still indicate a top bottom approach (Eboh, 2019

In the North West Region, the different types of land resources are bare surface, mountane forest, water bodies, and secondary forest, grassland used for agricultural practices and grazing activities and build up areas. The management of land resources here in the North West region reflects a more suitable approach for the sustainable exploitation and management of land resources in which many of them results in inter village conflicts. Land resources management strategies are therefore used which stems from institutional, environmental, and organizational agreements are enforced to ensure effectiveness in the management process to halt rising inter village conflicts (Eboh, 2012)

 Fundong sub division harbors a good number of land resources which are managed and owned for the livelihoods sustenance of the people. Amongst the land resources found in this municipality are, forest resources, water resources, grazing land, agricultural land resources, soils resources, land, plants and animals and just to name but this. These resources are managed by Fundong council, the Fon, Quarter heads, communities and individuals. The management and ownership of these land resources is not without some inter village conflicts and some of these conflicts results in the separation of villages and the use of metaphysics. These inter village conflicts are resolved in the Fundong municipal council, ministry of land resources and land tenure, police stations, traditional councils, in the Fons palace and in Fundong court of first instance.

1.2 Statement of the problem

Land resources in Fundong sub division comprises land, water, Forest, soils, grazing land, agricultural lands and just to name but this. These resources are managed for the growth of this municipality and the management and ownership of these resources are associated with some intra and inter village conflicts. Cases where inter village conflicts are visible in Fundong sub division due to the management and ownership of land resources are inter village conflicts between the villages of Nkwainkuma and Mbissi over land issues, conflicts between Aduk and Luh villages over land boundary, the conflicts between Bolem and Aduk over farming land or agricultural lands, conflicts between Ilung and Yuweh over the management and ownership of water resources and conflicts between Meli and Mbam villages over farming land resources. The Fundong council, the Fon of Kom, traditional councils, quarter heads, private groups and individuals have been fighting tooth and nail to give a listening ear to this inter village conflicts. Given the rising inter village conflicts over land resources management and ownership in Fundong sub division, this research work therefore, seeks to provide an insight on the available types or kinds of land resources, accessing the causes and the different inter village conflicts over land resources management and ownership in Fundong sub division and evaluating the effectiveness of the strategies adopted in resolving the inter village conflicts over land resources management and ownership.

1.3. Research questions

1.3.1 Main research question

What sustainable management strategies are adopted for managing inter-village conflicts over land resources in Fundong Sub Division?

1.3.2 Specific research question

 What are the different kinds of land resources in Fundong Sub Division?

What are the reasons behind frequent inter village conflicts over land resources in Fundong?

Which sustainable strategies are adopted to manage inter-village conflicts over land resources in Fundong Sub-Division?

What are the challenges hindering sustainable management of inter-village conflicts over land resources in Fundong Sub Division?

1.4 Research objectives

1.4.1 Main Research objective.

To examine the sustainable management strategies adopted for managing inter-village conflicts over land resources in Fundong Sub Division

1.4.2 Specific research Objectives

The following specific research objectives of the study are to:

• Identify the different kinds of land resources in Fundong sub division
• Examine the reasons behind the frequency of inter village conflicts over land resources in Fundong
• Evaluate which sustainable strategies are adopted to manage inter-village conflicts over land resources in Fundong Sub-Division
• Examine the challenges hindering sustainable management of inter-village conflicts over land resources in Fundong Sub Division?