A project for the formulation of a coastal management strategy for the Limbe municipality has been launched.

The launching was done by the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Zang III, last December 29 at the Limbe City Council Hall, Down Beach.

The project, according to Edmund Njoh, the Manager of the African Resource Group – Cameroon, a partner organisation for the implementation of the project, the city of Limbe has been experiencing fast economic and population growth bringing new environmental and socio-economic challenges.

He added that climate change has become an acute management issue for the mostly low-lying coastal zones in Limbe.

Hence the project will amongst others, formulate land use strategies and programmes covering urban development and socio-economic activities management.

Edmund Njoh said the ultimate beneficiaries of this project will be the residents of Limbe municipality and its surrounding areas and that the document will also provide strategic guidance to the Limbe City Council.

Key action of the project will include amongst others, the pprovision of consecutive trainings for women fishmongers in climate resilient post-fish harvest practices, Dissemination of results through stakeholder consultations and community interaction and to organize training programme for women who work along the fish value chain in Limbe.

The African Resource Group-Cameroon .Ltd (ARGCAM.Ltd) and the Limbe City Council will have overall responsibility for ensuring that the project is delivered on time.

Another presentation that marked the launch was the presentation of the Integrated Marine and Coastal Management Plan for Limbe City Council which was done by the Director of Technical Services, Casmir Lyonga Nyime.

According to the seasoned engineer, Limbe City Council Master Plan based on law No 2004-003 of April 2004 that deals with urban planning is a comprehensive document (2022 horizon) using territorial management approach to attain 5 objectives, to make Limbe more attractive, more welcoming and suitable for living, well organised and more equilibrated as well as more accessible.

He added that the major risk I the City of Limbe is due to its situation near the ocean and on the foot of mount Cameroon.

As a strategy, Casmir Lyonga said the council is working o a sustainable development policy, based on promotion of social settlement policy, that is; reinforcement of settlement already in urbanised areas; research on urban forms consuming less space, improvement in transport infrastructure and services etc.

He said the council is also working on the establishment of displacement and transport plan, the valorisation of the environment and living condition and developing a Local Environmental Plan.

The project, it should be noted, came as a result of call for proposals launched by the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, NPCA.

The NPCA has as primary objectives, to alleviate poverty, place African countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable development, to accelerate the empowerment of women amongst others.

Speaking earlier, the representative of NEPAD Agency, Estherine Fotabong said climate change is a big phenomenon which needs to be arrested.

According to her there was need for consultation with the local population before the projects begins, hence the raison d’etre of the consultation so that best practices can be shared on how councils can put up measures to curb climate change and support them economically especially women in the fishing value chain.

Motanga Andrew Monjimba, Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, in his intervention recalled the numerous disasters that have hit the municipality of Limbe as far back as the 2001 landslide where 21 people died.

He called on all stakeholders to brainstorm assuring that the Limbe City Council and Africa Resource Group will ensure the best for the project.

The event was also attended by Madam Nanga Owono, Inspector Number 2 at the Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection.

According to her, her minister has a lot of interest in the project and the environment in general.

She added that Limbe is a city with a fragile ecosystem with a lot of companies hence much has to be done to avoid risks.