A Critical Assessment of Environmental Challenges Caused by Infrastructural Projects in Cameroon: A Legal Analysis of the Case of Lom Pangar Dam and Kumba Mamfe Road.

Abstract

A healthy environment is indispensible for all forms of life on earth and on economic activities and growth. It is now factual that the environment is under serious threat caused by some types of investments causing the depletion of the ozone layer and irreversible destruction of the fauna and the flora. Among the environmental and social threatening activities we can mention the development of major infrastructures needed for development. Since Cameroon embarked on the much needed infrastructure such as roads and dams, so there is need for precautionary measures to strike a balance between the needs and risks for the environment and the human society. The legal requirement to protect both the environment as provided in both national legislation and international legal instruments is implemented by the production of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). Consequently, this paper has as main objective to critically examine the environmental and socio-legal problems underlying the development of major investments projects in Cameroun with the case studies of the Lom Pangar Dam and the Kumba-Mamfe road projects. In order to realise the above objective, both doctrinal and empirical research methods were used. Empirical research consisted of field work during which data was collected. Doctrinal research involved essentially analysis of data collected with the help of documents at our disposal. We also used doctrine from secondary sources such as journals, articles, text books, websites and thesis that talk on the topic. We realised that, despite the existing laws, regulations and conventions, the Lom Pangar and Kumba- Mamfe infrastructural projects still result in many negative environmental and social effects such as: soil pollution, deforestation, destruction of secret sites, land expropriation, involuntary resettlement. It is thus evident that the authorities charged to ensure environmental protection to more effective and efficient in their assigned mission, should integrate the suggestions made in this work. This will go a long way to ameliorate environmental protection in the course of infrastructural projects