CAMPAIGN AND ADVOCACY FOR THE PROTECTION OF WETLANDS FOR THE NOW AND FUTURE GENERATIONS IN FAKO DIVISION, SOUTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON

Though the national and international community have put in place legal and institutional mechanisms to protect wetlands, these measures appear to be ineffective and insufficient in Cameroon. The ineffectiveness and insufficiency of these mechanisms, including legal and institutional mechanisms aimed at protecting wetlands and its habitats have continued to contribute to the degradation of wetlands and thus a threat to future generations. As a result, the increase in population and economic development in Cameroon and the South West Region, in particular, has continued to affect the wise use and management of wetlands in the country as people have continued to construct houses and industries on wetlands and also carry out agricultural activities around the wetlands which at times are the main sources of water to the local communities.  The unregulated use and misuse of wetlands in the South West Regions of Cameroon have largely contributed to the scarcity of potable water in the fast-developing towns in the region and the extinction of its aquatic species. A threat against wetlands is a threat against the promotion and protection of human rights, especially the right to water.

To prevent the degradation of wetlands, our project, therefore, aims to combat the degradation of wetlands in the project region through online and offline campaigns. This is because the Fako Division, an increase in population and development has led to the misuse of wetlands as houses and industries are constructed in and around wetlands which are sources of water for the local communities. The population have also been farming in and around the already disappearing wetlands and as a result,  an increase in the degradation of wetlands and thus a threat to the now and future generations.