Journal of Marine Science: Research & Development
Open Access

Abstract

Current statistics show that more than half of the world?s population now lives in urban areas with approximately 50 percent living within 200 km of the coast (Alcala & Russ, 2006). Nowadays, the increasing proportion of people in ?coastalurban? areas is undoubtedly an eminent challenge not just in specific countries but to the world at large. Therefore, profound studies are needed in order to understand the dynamics within the ?coastal-urban? space such that resources are deployed in a sustainable manner. This work is based on administrative consultations and field reconnaissance, therefore portrays the changing dynamics between urbanization, coastal water resources and their related impacts on human health. It posits that the fast degradation of the Douala coastal water resources due to urbanization and attest the gaps in current urban-public policies. Moreover, the degradation of the biophysical milieu has shouldered with water borne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery etc. As such, for a sustainable coastal environment to be attained, timely endeavours encompassing all stakeholders are needed to clearly circumscribe the challenges and address them with state-of-the-art policies.

Biography

Suinyuy Derrick Ngoran obtained his bachelor?s degree in Geography from the University of Yaounde (I), Cameroon in 2006. Between 2006 and 2010, he served as a Facilitator in the elaboration of village development with Environment, Nature Protection and Development Initiative (ENPADI) NGO and Rumpi Area Participatory Development Project. He has also played the role of a consultant in the area of conservation with the Program for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources South West Region (PSMNR-SWR) in partnership with the German Development service (DED), Cameroon. In 2013, he earned a Master?s Degree in Marine Sciences at Xiamen University and is currently a second year PhD student, majoring in Environmental Management, still within the same university. As of 2015, he has published 7 books, 2 journal articles and many other under review.