THE 1986 LAKE NYOS GAS DISASTER IN CAMEROON: CHALLENGES AND IMPLICATIONS ON SURVIVORS AND THE LIVESTOCK ECONOMY

This paper seeks to examine how the Lake Nyos gas disaster of 21 August 1986 affectedlivestock production and cattle rearing within the environment of Subum, Cha and Nyos. It brings to the forefront, the post-disaster effects onthe pastoral cattle rearing community. Thepolicies and strategies put forth by the various stakeholdersat the national and international levels have partially addressed some of the worries posed by this disaster, even thoughthe area is still in dire need of government and humanitarian support to improve onthe sector.The paper argues that, the resettlement of these livestock breeders could improvethis sector and render the environment sustainable for human habitation. Gleaned from a wide range of primary and secondary sources, the paper concludes that there isabsolute need for the government of Cameroon to tackle these long-term difficulties faced by these communities and to develop an effective livestock policy geared towards improving the livelihoods of the people around Lake Nyos.