Comparative Diagnosis of the Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Human Settlements Using Satellite Images in the Sprawling Bamenda, Cameroon

Purpose: Human settlements define people’s existence and play an important role in development. There is the dire need to comparatively diagnose human settlement evolution in the sprawling Bamenda city where a spatial, temporal, knowledge and evidence gaps currently exist on the subject matter. This study therefore aims to diagnoses, in a comparative manner, the spatio-temporal evolution of human settlements in Bamenda between the period 2000 to 2020. Materials and Methods: The study used systematic field surveys via observation, structured informant interviews with relevant council authorities and 260 copies of questionnaire as primary sources of data collection. The administration of 260 copies of questionnaire was carried out using the simple random sampling techniques in the urban, peri-urban and rural peripheries of Bamendas I, II and III sub-divisions. The Bamenda City Council provided the satellite imageries showing land use patterns in Bamenda for 2000, 2010 and 2020 which were used to calculate settlement evolution over time. Findings: Findings revealed that settlement land use, in relation to other land uses such as farmland, grassland, woodland, wetland, road and water bodies (rivers, streams and lake) increased in Bamenda from 17.37km2 in 2000 to 54.31km2 in 2020, given a net increase of 36.94km2 in just over 20 years. Spatio-temporal evolution equally showed that Bamenda II Sub-division is the most urbanized with 29.78km2 (54.77%) of all settlements, followed by Bamenda III with 15.18km2 (28.02%) and lastly Bamenda I with 9.35km2 (17.21%). The factors driving human settlement growth in the area are complex and many, including population growth, economic opportunities, geographical factors, social and cultural factors, relative political stability in relation to the neighbouring areas like Ndop, Kom and Oku, government incentive policy and the existence of urban planning and zoning laws. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: By making a comparative diagnosis, the study proffers the need to strengthen spatial planning at the local level in organizing and managing the physical space in the urban, peri-urban and rural neighborhoods in the different sub-divisions of Bamenda. It recommends that the Bamenda City Council in collaboration with the three sub-divisional councils undertake a spatial planning assessment to help identify suitable land for other uses, create growth poles in the peripheries accompanied by socio-economic triggers (schools, financial institutions, health establishments and transport agencies) and the provision of a well-planned new layout to make the urban peripheries of Mandakwe and Mankon more attractive sites for settlement construction.