Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Mangrove Conditions as Indicator for
Potential Payment for Ecosystem Services
in Some Estuaries of Western Region of
Ghana, West Africa
Gordon N. Ajonina, Tundi Agardy, Winnie Lau, Kofi Agbogah,
and Balertey Gormey
Abstract
A rapid assessment was carried out on the Greater Amanzule wetlands in Ghana to assess the
types and conditions of mangroves and associated ecosystem services (e.g. carbon
sequestration, wood collection and tourism) for determining the potential for payment for
ecosystem services (PES). A combination of stakeholder discussions and on-the-ground
surveys was used to gather information on 18 mangrove sites. The survey showed that over
1,000 ha of mangrove forests exists in scattered pockets of less than 10 ha (in 50 % of the
sites), representing nearly 10 % of the known national mangrove coverage of 14,000 ha. The
mangroves are estuarine type, generally healthy, and reach canopy height of 30 m. They
support livelihoods and ecological securities of the surrounding fishing or farming
communities. There was a general community perception that mangrove forests have
decreased in area over the last 20 years. Identified threats include harvesting for fuelwood
and construction, pollution from domestic and mining waste disruption in the tidal regime at
some estuaries. Carbon sequestration remains a valuable service: total aboveground carbon
stored in intact mangrove areas ranged from 65 to 422 tC/ha (mean of 185 tC/ha) with
estimated aboveground roots (aerial roots) making up 78 % of the carbon stock in some
degraded areas. The economic value of mangroves as a source of fuelwood was approximated
at US$2,765/ha. A number of factors were identified as contributing to suboptimal
governance of mangroves and wetlands. Appropriate PES schemes with improved legal and
institutional arrangements are expected to help surmount management challenges.
Keywords
Rapid assessment
Payment for ecosystem services
Mangroves
Ghana
Introduction
to very narrow, noncontinuous coastal areas around lagoons
in the west of the country; to the east, they are found on the
fringes of the lower reaches of the Volta River delta (UNEP
2007
). In western Ghana, the most extensive stretches are
between Cape Three Points and the border with La Côte
d'Ivoire. Six genera of mangroves, typical of west-central
African mangroves, are found in Ghana: Acrostichum aure-
rum,
Avicennia
germinans,
Conocarpus
erectus,
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