CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

This chapter focus on the research context which give a trickle down approach from top to bottom, the research problem, research questions, objectives and hypothesis. It further explains the literature review which was as of the research objectives presented.

1.1 Research Context

The urban population of the developed world is expected to grow from 0.9 billion to 1 billion by 2030, while that for the less developed world is expected to grow from 1.9 billion to 3.9 billion by 2030 (UNCHS Habitat, 2001). The ever-increasing population of the world has led to the rise of unplanned urban growth in the cities, usually termed urban sprawl. Between 2005 and 2015 the world’s cities swelled by about 750million people, per the UN. By 2050, China, India and Nigeria alone are expected to add about 900million urban residents in the mega cities of these countries. Most of the growth is experienced in Africa and Asia, specifically on the fringes of African and Asian cities. With few exceptions, cities are growing faster in size than in population. The UNFPA (2007) contends that the space taken up by urban localities is increasing faster than the urban population itself. A recent study by WWF shows that in the last 25 years, some 33 percent of the natural world has been annihilated (The Living Planet Index, WWF, 1998 in Girardet, 1999).

Urbanization is defined as the physical growth of urban areas which is a consequence of people migrating from rural to urban areas (Bhatta, 2010). More than half of the world population has settled in urban areas by 2008 and this figure will increase to 60% by 2030 (United Nations, 2014). As a consequence, the worldwide observed urban area is increasing correspondingly. By 2030, the urban land cover will increase to 1.2 million km2 which is nearly triple of the urban land in 2000 (Seto, Güneralp, & Hutyra, 2012). Even though urbanization brings ample economic and technological benefits (Runde, 2015), its impact on ecology is devastating. It not only hinders the natural ecological boundaries but also hampers the agricultural fields (Huang, Xia, Xiao, & He, 2017).  Not only the growing amount of urban land has threatened the well-being of the cities, but also the pattern of urban growth has affected the cities largely. Although urban growth has been widely discussed, its definition is still not clear. While some researchers refer to it as a change in population or economic performance, for some it is related to the spatial expansion of urban areas (Reis, Silva, & Pinho, 2016). In this study, the focus will be set on the spatial dimension of urban growth. Urban growth pattern is defined as the characteristic of spatial changes that happen in metropolitan areas (Aguilera, Valenzuela, & Botequilha-Leitão, 2011).

China is under urbanisation in an unprecedented rate which led to the probably greatest human-settlement in the history (Bai, Shi, & Liu, 2014). Shenzhen, a fast-growing city, is located on the southeast coast of China. Shenzhen was promoted as a city in 1979 and the first Chinese Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was established in Shenzhen in 1980. Special Economic Zones refer to the geographic regions within a country which have more liberal laws and economic policies than the other regions to encourage foreign investment (Wang, 2013). After the establishment of SEZ, Shenzhen has developed from a small city of about 300,000 inhabitants to a megacity with approximately 15 million people by 2015 (UN-Habitat, 2015). In order to accommodate the increased population, the urban land increased from 5.6% to 41.8% of the whole city (Dou & Chen, 2017).

Those urban growth patterns perceived as negative have an irreversible impact on the sustainability of the environment and human (Bhatta, 2010). For example, the leapfrogging urban growth will contribute to the increase in travel demand that raises energy consumption. On the other hand, the smart urban growth patterns, such as infilling growth, devote themselves to compact the urban areas and reduce energy consumption (Transportation Research Board and National Research Council, 2009). Therefore, figuring out the urban growth patterns is very important for urban planners who are aiming at a more sustainable urban growth. The planning and policy methods, such as spatial zoning and urban growth boundaries, are widely used to mitigate the negative urban growth patterns. For example, urban growth boundaries are set to encourage urban development inside urban growth boundaries and reduce the leapfrogging developments in this way (Millward, 2006).

The proportion of the population living in urban areas in Africa has risen from 15 percent in 1960 to 40 percent in 2010 and is projected to reach 60 percent in 2050 according to the United Nations Population Division.   Urban growth is estimated at 3.7 percent a year, more than twice the world’s urban growth rate (Un-Habitat 2010).  Between 2010 and 2050, African urban populations will triple, reaching 1.2 billion people.  This challenge is unique in human history in terms of size and the pace of the transformation. 

 Africa’s rapid urbanization is both predictable and potentially beneficial.  Africa has had one of the fastest economic growth rates in the world during the past decade – an average above 5 percent a year during 2000-2010 – and the outlook for the continent is largely positive. Rapid urbanization is expected in this context.  Economic geography tells us that prosperity and density go together because high productivity requires agglomeration economies, larger markets and better connectivity.  Long run-growth needs an efficient system of urban centers that produce industrial goods and high-value services, along with transportation networks to link national economies with regional and global markets (Spence et al, 2009, World Bank 2009).  

The one-time physical environment of Bamenda that knew little or no stress in the 60’s has seen the progressive replacement of pre-existing vegetation with buildings and pavements of varying degree and quality. In as much as this change is seen as man’s quest to improve on his immediate environment with the desire to lead a more comfortable life, there is need for such change to follow a planned and comprehensive pattern that can still stand the taste of time in generations to come. This calls for the adoption of a multidisciplinary approach in the planning of present day Bamenda. Bamenda, the metropolitan centre of the North West Region has a panoramic and well-drained natural site. In spite of the existing largely unplanned urban development, it could be re- planned, upgraded and systematically extended to offer a beautiful, healthy, safe, secured, comfortable, convenient and functional living environment which provides equitable opportunities to all its inhabitants. To do this, the current situation where private interest over land completely dominates public interest has to be reversed without necessarily undermining the former.

The situation of urban hazard within this millennium appears to be different in scope and magnitude. Not only do such hazards occur frequently, but they are seen to occur with even greater intensity and at threatening scales seen to be dangerous to the very existence of man and to the disruption of a onetime ecologically balanced complex. The situation within the city of Bamenda is that which beck for an answer as the incidence of flash flooding, mudflow, landslides, fire disasters, and sheet and gulley erosion are on a disheartening increase in the phase of a rapidly expanding human numbers. Ensuing natural hazards that occur due to man’s disruption of the geomorphic processes are that which man himself can’t prevent from occurring. They are certainly inevitable and man has a price to pay.

1.4.2 Statement of the Research Problem

Urban growth and natural resource management in Mbei village present a unique set of challenges that must be addressed in order to ensure the sustainable development of the community. As Mbei village continues to grow and expand, the demand for land use planning, development, biodiversity conservation, water management, and climate change adaptation has become increasingly pressing.

One of the key challenges facing Mbei village is the need to balance urban growth with resource management. As the population of Mbei continues to increase, there is a growing demand for housing, infrastructure, and economic development. This presents a challenge in terms of land use planning, as it becomes necessary to allocate land for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes while also preserving important natural areas and ecosystems. Another challenge facing Santa village is the preservation of biodiversity. As urbanization encroaches on natural habitats, there is a risk of loss of biodiversity and fragmentation of ecosystems.

This can have serious consequences for the health of the environment and the well-being of local wildlife populations. It is important to implement measures to protect and conserve biodiversity in Santa village, such as creating protected areas, wildlife corridors, and habitat restoration projects. Water management is another significant challenge facing Santa village. As the population grows and water demand increases, there is a need to ensure a sustainable supply of clean water for residents, businesses, and agriculture. This requires effective water management strategies, such as watershed protection, water conservation measures, and efficient water distribution systems. Climate change adaptation is also a critical issue for Mbei village. As the impacts of climate change become more severe, it is important to develop resilience strategies to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and other climate-related challenges. This may include measures such as green infrastructure, floodplain management, and building codes that are designed to withstand climate impacts. The challenges of urban growth and natural resource management in Santa village are complex and multifaceted. However, by addressing key issues such as land use planning, biodiversity conservation, water management, and climate change adaptation, it is possible to find solutions that meet the needs of the growing community while preserving the natural environment for future generations.