Causes and consequences of mangrove deforestation in the Volta Estuary, Ghana: some recommendations for ecosystem rehabilitation.

Rubin, J. A; Gordon, C.; Amatekpor, J. K.

Causes and consequences of mangrove deforestation in the Volta Estuary, Ghana: some recommendations for ecosystem rehabilitation.

1998

Rubin, J. A | Gordon, C. | Amatekpor, J. K.

The damming of the Volta River has resulted in reduced flooding and an increase in mangrove cutting, accompanied by the virtual collapse of agriculture and fishing in the estuary. Another ecological consequence of the reduced level of flooding has been reduced dispersal of seedlings of the principal mangrove, Rhizophora racemosa. Therefore, after cutting of this species, recolonization is either by conspecifics growing at very high densities or by one of a number of weed species, particularly Typha domingensis, Acrostichum aureum, Paspalum vaginatum, Cyperus articulatus, Sesuvium portulacastrum and Philoxerus vermicularis. Environmental data collected in the vicinity of the mangroves and each of the weed species have enabled suggestions to be made as to whether R. racemosa or Avicennia africana would be the more suitable mangrove to replant. Recommendations have also been made to introduce the palm Nypa fruticans to the area, together with the development of nature-based tourism, both of which would provide alternative means of income generation, thereby reducing the need to cut remaining mangroves.

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