Perception of Non-migrant Communities to Geo-hazard Threats in the Mount Cameroon Volcanic Region

Abstract

Whilst the issue of migration has received widespread and international debates on the geometric number of people displaced daily from one region to another, the environmental unfriendliness, socio-economic and political situations have been accused for the progressive migrant trend in most parts of the world. Bearing in mind these unprecedented situations, the tendency had always been the decision to migrate or stay to cope with adverse situation. It is against these mix feelings that the study investigates the perception of non-migrant communities to geo-hazard threats along the Mount Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL). The study made use of both primary and secondary sources of data. Interviews were conducted with some traditional authorities, officials of the Limbe Botanic Garden, government officials and municipal authorities on the environmental impacts associated with the decision of the non-migrants in vulnerable zones. From the interview conducted a representative survey of households was then undertaken to gather the opinion of non-migrant households within the geo-hazard environment. This was aided by the use of some 120 questionnaires distributed to on-spot households exposed to geo-hazards within the Mount Cameroon mobile region. 120 questionnaires were administered and distributed to 5 sampled communities using random a sampling technique. The Mount Cameroon Volcanic Region alongside the location of communities were mapped out using ArcGIS. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation results revealed that communities have strong perception of geo-hazards despite the threats. About 80% of the communities perceived the occurrence of such hazards as mixed blessings especially the associated benefits from fertile volcanic and alluvial soils as well as floodwaters in depressions used for agricultural activities. The study further states that the myths of households to geohazard occurrence kills the science and technology as well as the resilient strategies to such geo-hazards. While the socio-cultural mechanism remains a winding driver of on-spot location in hazard-prone zones, the future of community safety should not undermine human knack responses to geo-hazards. The study recommends proper planning and adaptive measures along this volcanic line such that the traditional and cultural myths of the communities should be integrated with the modern and technological structures to resist or minimize the effects of nature on the non-migrant communities within the flanks of the Cameroon Volcanic Line.