The Dibamba River is a vital ecosystem for Douala, the largest city in Cameroon, providing natural resources and cultural services to Douala’s four million residents. However, the river is facing multiple threats, including urban development, pollution, climate change, sand mining and fisheries. To address these challenges, UN-Habitat has recognized the importance of the Dibamba River and has enlisted the Arcadis Shelter Program to help develop a strategic resource management plan to protect the river from further damage and ensure its sustainable management.
I feel fortunate to have been chosen as a member of the Shelter mission to Douala, Cameroon. The week-long trip was full of exciting activities, including site visits, stakeholder engagements, presentations and cultural events. The experience was incredibly fulfilling, and I was impressed by the locals’ enthusiasm and dedication toward the project. It was also inspiring to witness their commitment to conserving the Dibamba River and their eagerness to promote tourism, allowing them to showcase the beauty of Cameroon to the world.
Complex balance
Douala’s rapid growth since the 1950s has led to the destruction of natural systems such as mangrove forests that once surrounded the banks of the Dibamba River. This development along with poor waste management in informal neighborhoods and industries, has increased pollutions levels in the river. Despite these challenges, the Dibamba River remains an essential ecosystem that provides water, food, access to the sea and relief for stormwater and wastewater. It also holds cultural significance for the local community and is the main source of drinking water for Douala. Maintaining the balance between different economic, cultural and ecological values is crucial for the long-term health of the river. Therefore, local stakeholders are making efforts to protect the river and ensure that it continues to provide economic, public health and cultural benefits to the community.
The Shelter mission
UN-Habitat is working with local governments, national agencies and the Douala City Council to develop the Dibamba Strategic River Resources Management Plan as part of a wider Dibamba River Protection Plan. Arcadis’ Shelter team has provided a set of recommendations to protect the Dibamba River, including establishing a protected river corridor, regulating and monitoring waste disposal, improving development planning, creating a permitting system for river resources and promoting cultural ties to the river.
To ensure the long-term viability of this framework, an adaptive management structure has been recommended. This structure can evaluate the successes and challenges of the political regulatory structure implementing the plan and the activities conducted to protect the river. An adaptive approach can respond to changing needs based on feedback from stakeholders, changing situations and evaluation of the progress of specific projects.
The mission in Douala (Cameroon) instilled a new momentum to the Dibamba river corridor project. The Strategic River Resource Management Plan (SRRMP) for the Dibamba River, which was produced at the end of the mission, prepared and presented by Arcadis, has the overall objective of proposing medium-, short- and long-term actions to regulate the activities along the river to promote a harmonious and sustainable development of the region. The aim of the SRRMP is to find a balance between the activities carried out in the river and the protection of its living ecosystem. The SRRMP proposed six objectives to protect the corridor for sustained uses, values and climate resilience; to reduce pollution with instream conditions; to manage municipal solid waste; to manage impacts to future developments; to manage activities impacting the river corridor; to balance economic development and the aquatic ecosystem. This can be considered as a ‘revolution’ for the population living in the littoral region of Cameroon.
