By Ama KUDOM-AGYEMANG
At long last, the Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site now has a new Management Plan in place. It aims to improve the management of the site and develop its natural resources for the benefit of nature and the people, by putting in place an effective administrative management system that involves the active participation of the local population.
Titled: “Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site Management Plan 2023 – 2032,” it replaces the old one, last updated in 1999 under World Bank funded Coastal Wetlands Management Project, and which had been in existence for 25 years.
It was during that project that the Keta Lagoon Complex site alongside Songor, Sakumo, Densu Delta and Muni Pomadze ecosystems were designated as Ramsar Sites or coastal wetlands of international importance. These Ramsar sites are protected under the Wetland management (Ramsar Sites) Regulations, 1999 (L.I. 1659).
Again, the Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site’s new Management Plan is a product of the European Union (EU) funded project: “Management of Mangrove Forest from Senegal to Benin,” implemented in nine West African countries, including Ghana, Togo, Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The others are Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Guinea and the Gambia. The aim of the project was to achieve an integrated protection of the diverse and fragile mangrove ecosystems in West Africa, and enhance their resilience to climate change.
The IUCN Ghana Office, which spearheaded the project’s implementation in the country, introduced the new Management Plan to stakeholders at the Mangrove Project Closure Workshop in Accra, on Tuesday, June 4th, 2024 to formally close the project.
Developing a new management plan for the Keta Lagoon Complex was a priority activity under the project because the site has been undergoing substantial pressure. For instance, the surface area of the natural habitats is decreasing, while urban infrastructure is rapidly expanding with the protected area almost completely surrounded by an urban belt.
Also, fish stocks are declining, groundwater is getting more and more salinized, while debris is choking fish breeding areas. According to GMES & Africa (2020), mangrove surface area in the Site had sharply declined in recent years from 70 km square in 2015 to 58 km square in 2020.
Eventually, the new Plan, which is a major achievement of the Mangrove Project, is expected to result in regeneration and conservation where possible, of the original species and habitat that give the site its international importance. Additionally, the capacity of stakeholders would be strengthened to sustainably manage and derive livelihood from their natural resources.
Aside providing general information such as the land and its regulatory context, physical and biological characteristics, the socio-economic and cultural frameworks, values and challenges about the Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site; the new Plan also identifies areas of priority intervention. They include the Gamenu, Anyabui-Salo and Anolga mangrove zones. Others are the special biodiversity zone comprising the Avu and Anyako-Seva lagoons which are breeding grounds for aquatic life, and the small islands within the Keta Lagoon Complex.
The new Plan farther recommends that special attention be given to the beaches and the edges of the Volta River estuary in any restoration and protection activities.
Other achievements of the Mangrove Project
Another major achievement of the Mangrove Project in Ghana includes restoration of a total of 55.5 out of the targeted 1500 hectares of degraded mangrove areas. The restored mangrove areas are basically around the Sota, Galotse and Atoprakpo community restoration sites.
While the area restored is modest, compared to the initial target, its significance is the long-term contribution towards enhancing biodiversity, climate resilience and livelihoods of the catchment communities.
Also, community woodlots have been established in several communities including Galotse and Bomingo. The woodlots cover a total area of 11 hectares and will serve as alternative wood energy source for the benefit of the communities as well as promote sustainable lifestyles. Additionally, a total of 60 community members were trained and supported with income-enhancing alternative livelihoods that impacted about 300 household members.
Presenting an overview of the project, Anthony Adeea Mba of the IUCN Ghana Project Office, said the gains made became possible through its key partners namely: A Rocha Ghana, Kasa Initiative, Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission and the Development Institute (DI). Others were the Anloga and South Tongu District Assemblies, the Anloga Traditional Council and the various project communities.
He said another key partner was the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Department of Fisheries and Watershed Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). This partnership led to seven students conducting their undergraduate research thesis on mangrove related topics.
Anthony stated that three of the students were supported with small grants under the project to undertake their research. Their topics were: Mangrove Forest cover along the coastline of Ghana, Water quality index for mangrove restoration in the Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site Ghana, and Effectiveness of implementation of policies in the management of Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site.
In a message, the Executive Director of the Wildlife Division, Joseph Boakye, described as significant, the development of the revised Plan for the management of the Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site and commended the project for facilitating the process. He also highlighted the establishment of the Dusornu Community Resource Management Area (CREMA), and attributed the 90% progress made to “… a result of our collective commitment to sustainable resource management.”
The Chairperson of the National Mangrove Management Platform, Togbe Kumassah was thankful to all the partners and stakeholders for playing a tremendous role in the overall success of the project. “Collectively, we celebrate our achievements and lessons learned, paving way for future conservation efforts,” he added.
The Platform was one of several formed to provide strategic directives towards implementing the mangrove project in Ghana.
Importance of mangroves
Earlier in her welcome address, Dorcas Owusuaa Agyei of the IUCN Ghana Project Office, traced the significance of the Mangrove Restoration Project to the importance of mangroves in the national economy and the threats facing that ecosystem. “Mangroves are indeed vital ecosystems providing numerous benefits, including coastal protection, nurseries for marine life, and carbon sequestration. However, mangroves constantly face alarming degradation globally, with devastating impacts on biodiversity, livelihoods, and climate change.”
She said over the past 50 years, global mangrove forests cover has declined at an estimated 30-50%, while in Ghana, the loss of mangrove forests cover has been estimated at 25% over the past 20 years.
Dorcas emphasized that the range of impacts from mangrove degradation is huge – “including decreased carbon sequestration and contribution to climate change, loss of biodiversity and habitat for marine life, reduced coastal protection and increased vulnerability to erosion and flooding, and increased risk of saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources.”
To ensure that gains made under the now ended Mangrove Restoration Project are not eroded, the participants made a unanimous call on the IUCN Ghana Office to identify alternative funding sources to build on the gains made.
Status of mangroves
Mangroves form part of Ghana’s wealth of biodiversity resources. Both red and white mangroves are found along the coasts and estuaries throughout the country’s coastal stretch from the eastern coast to the western coast cutting across Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions including the southernmost tip of the country.
They serve as the foundation of a highly productive and biologically rich ecosystem providing habitat for a wide range of aquatic species including different types of fishes and shell fishes as well as feeding grounds for migratory birds. Mangroves support the livelihoods of coastal communities and contribute significantly to the nation’s fisheries sector.
However, mangroves are threatened through unsustainable exploitation, pollution, reclamation for residential construction, poverty within mangrove communities, inadequate alternative livelihood options, illegal mining or galamsey, invasive species as well as climate change impacts.
