Mangrove Degradation and Management Practices along the Coast of Ghana

Abstract

Mangroves are increasingly being degraded in West Africa. We explored local utilization, threats and assessed existing conservation practices in Ghana through field visits, mapping, laboratory analyses and interviews. The study reports three species of mangroves along Ghana’s coastline; white (Avicennia germinans), red (Rhizophora racemosa), and black (Laguncularia racemosa) mangroves. White mangrove is the most dominant, with black mangroves being the least. The current mangrove cover of Ghana was estimated at 72.4 km2 with over 18 million trees (average = 2284.21 trees per hectare), both naturally occurring and planted mangroves. The Volta Region had the most abundant mangroves, with the Central region recording the least. Notable flora within the mangrove forests included Acrostichum aureum, Sesuvium portulacastrum, Paspalum vaginatum, Sporobolus maritima and Conocarpus erectus. Mangrove wetland in Ghana provides suitable nursery habitats for several important fish species, including Sarotherodon melanotheron, Mugil cephalus, Callinectes amnicola, Cardiosoma armatum, Crassostrea sp, Periophthalmus papilio, Coptodon spp. Ghana’s mangrove forest is declining at a rate of 8.1 km2 per annum due to over-cutting, land conversion, wildfires, pollution, overgrazing and natural death from disease. Over cutting mangrove for fish smoking and housing construction were significant threats to mangroves nationwide. Continuous education, law enforcement, nature-based methods and local control mechanisms effectively protect mangroves.