Assessing the Ecological Functioning of the Riparian Zones of the Menoua Watershed of the Mount Bamboutos Landscape-West Region, Cameroon (Central Africa)
The ecological functioning of the riparian zone was investigated in the Menoua sub-watershed of the Mount Bamboutos landscape, Cameroon. Five transects of 1 km each were laid along five rivers to investigate the ecological functioning of the streams. Each transect received a score for the functioning of the riparian zone according to the RSRA method. The scoring for the functioning of the riparian zones was based on 3 parameters (water quality, Hydro-geomorphology and Fish/Habitat diversity). River 1 (Lingang) obtained scores of (5/5, 2.5/5, 2/5). River 2 (Djutitsa) obtained scores of (3/5, 1.75/5, 3.7/5). River 3 (lepeh waterfall) obtained scores of (5/5, 2/5, 4.3/5). River 4 (Mia Melieuh) obtained scores of (3/5, 1.75/5, 3.7/5), and River 5 (Baleveng) obtained scores of (3/5, 1.5/5, 3.7/5). These parameters are critical baseline information required in either the design of a restoration initiative for the Menoua Watershed of Mount Bamboutos or for the monitoring of the restoration of the landscape by watching the functional ecology devel-of its riparian zones.
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