This book tells the story of times past, when wetlands were considered as wastelands and decision makers and managers were unaware of their benefits, a time when the adverse impacts of hydropower and irrigation schemes on ecosystems and people downstream seemed unimportant. Today wetland ecosystems are viewed as essential elements in integrated river basin planning, which draws upon the most appropriate modern science and traditional knowledge. This book tells of the partial restoration of the Waza Logone floodplain of Cameroon, using lessons from the floodplain’s history to partially correct earlier mistakes.