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.

The objectives of this study were (I) to establish allometric relationships between the stem volume and biomass of the stem, branches, leaves and the leaf area, and crown dimensions of individual trees, (II) to determine the relative aboveground biomass distribution, (III) to determine the vertical gradient of the specific leaf area and (IV) to estimate the aboveground stand biomass and the leaf area. Diameter at 0.3m height above ground and height of each tree were measured as the basic biometrical characteristics. The coefficient of the shape of the trunk was found by Huber's method.

The cloned saplings of Norway spruce (7 years old) were exposed to ambient UV-B irradiation or enhanced BV-B irradiation (+25 %) continuously over three growing seasons. Comprehensive analysis of CO2 assimilation and chlorophyll a fluorescence was performed at the end of the third growing season to evaluate the influence of enhanced UV-B irradiation. The analysis resulted in observations of decreased photosynthetic activity, mainly of RUBISCO activity, as a result of long-term influence of enhanced UV-B irradiation. Morever, the deep impact of enhanced UV-B irradiance on the level of electron transport and thus enhanced sensitivity to photo-inhibition was demonstrated.

Surface liming even in higher doses did not affected soil Ph and improving the content of Mg and Ca was only temporary. Spot fertilization by fine-ground amphibolite is significant particularly from the aspect of long-term affects. Short-term affects manifested themselves slightly but in the whole system of particular parameters. Application of higher amounts (3 kg.ha-1) of amphibolite has its substantiation in the future.