Some Adaptations to Sea Level Rise in the Coastal City of Limbe, Cameroon

Abundant scientific evidence at our disposal clearly demonstrates that the world’s climates have been changing particularly since the advent of the Industrial Revolution. One of these evidences has been the rise in sea level. While inland cities might be confronted with other evidences and impacts of climate change, adapting to sea level rise remains a daunting task for most coastal cities especially those of developing countries. This paper therefore examines the extent of sea level rise in the Cameroonian coastal city of Limbe and the various indigenous adaptation strategies which are being put in place to combat this sea level rise. Using secondary data relating to sea level rise in tropical coastal areas and primary data relating to the various adaptation options to sea level rise, the study establishes that sea level rise will continue to be a problem to this location if adequate and lasting measures are not put in place. While the city has recorded successes especially in real estate development adaptations, other infrastructural facilities which largely support the tourism sector especially along the city’s coast line have remained unsustainable. In the wake of the growing sea level rise, perhaps, it is incumbent on the city’s authorities to have a holistic approach in the development and management of its coastal infrastructures in order to combat the sea level rise problem which has become a cruel reality in this active tectonic and mobile region of Cameroon.