The impact of human activities on biodiversity conservation in a Coastal Wetland in Ghana

The study was undertaken at the Muni-Pomadze coastal wetland in the Central Region of Ghana. The wetland, located about 56 km west of Accra, is an important habitat for wildlife of both local and global conservation significance. This study investigated the effects of human activities (e.g. farming, hunting, fuelwood harvesting, etc.) on the environment and biodiversity conservation in the area, as well as the implications of such activities for the future of the “Aboakyer” Festival of the local Effutu people. The festival is an important ecotourist attraction which is of economic and sociocultural significance for the local people and the country at large. The methodology involved interviews with a cross-section of the local people, the organisation of durbars, and focus group discussions (FGD). The results indicated that, among the various human activities undertaken in the area, fuelwood harvesting, bushfire setting, hunting, and farming had the greatest impact on biodiversity conservation through degradation of the wetland over the years. Furthermore, about 95% of the respondents regarded the “Aboakyer” Festival as a major socioeconomic activity in the area. There, however, appeared to be little awareness of both “western” and traditional methods of wildlife conservation. The following were recommended for the improvement of the current status of the wetland and its sustainable management: (i) enhancement of local participation in biodiversity conservation initiatives, (ii) initiation of public education and awareness campaigns, (iii) integration of traditional and modern knowledge system of biodiversity conservation, (iv) re-afforestation, (v) introduction of alternative forms of biomass energy, (vi) provision of incentive packages for implementing agencies, and (vii) provision of alternative sources of income for the local populatio

A study of bushfires in a Ghanaian Coastal Wetland. I. Impact on small mammals

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A study of bushfires in a Ghanaian Coastal Wetland. II. Impact on floral diversity and soil seed bank

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Shoreline change and sea level rise at the Muni-Pomadze coastal wetland (Ramsar site), Ghana

Lagoon-wetland systems are common along low-lying coastlines. They provide rich species habitats, multiple ecosystem services and socio-economic activities. They are particularly susceptible to the impacts of sea level rise (SLR), especially in less developed countries (LDCs) where economic and development constraints limit adaptation. The Muni-Pomadze lagoon is one of five coastal Ramsar sites in Ghana and one of many along the country’s coastline. It is an intermittently closed lagoon with extreme seasonal hydrological and physico-chemical variation. Field observation, digital mapping and GIS analysis of the shoreline has enabled an understanding of coastal change and SLR at the lagoon. From 1972 to 2014 the high water mark has shifted landwards with an average retreat rate of 0.22 m/year. Evidence of erosion and sediment washover indicate loss of and a shift landward of the sand barrier separating the lagoon from the ocean. Creation of an inundation map for a one-meter rise of sea level reveals fragementation and breaching of the barrier and an increasingly permanent connection to the ocean. A more open lagoon system stabilises hydrological and physico-chemical conditions, leading to increases in biodiversity and aquatic productivity. The lagoon currently has no consideration of SLR in its management plan. The results of this analysis and the limited development of the Muni-Pomadze lagoon support a no intervention approach to coastal management that allows SLR to transform the closed lagoon to an open estuary. A similar approach at comparable coastal wetland systems in Ghana and in other LDCs could prove an effective management option.Sheffield Hallam University Department of Natural and Built Environment professional development funds. University of Virginia