Mangrove and Tidal Forests
Mangroves are found along the coast of Ghana. They tend to be associated with lagoons and estuaries, particularly along the eastern and western coastal areas.
| Release date | 14/08/2010 |
|---|---|
| Contributor | Kwesi Anderson |
Mangroves along the coastline of Ghana tend to be associated with coastal lagoons and estuaries. The distribution is sparse and mangrove populations have also been degraded through over-cutting and conversion of mangrove areas to salt pans. The total area of land occupied by mangroves along the Ghanaian coastline in 1995 was estimated to be around 10,000 ha (Saenager and Bellan, 1995). Mangroves are more prevalent along the eastern coastal areas of Ghana especially at the Volta delta. A few smaller mangrove areas occur along the western coastline in areas such the Amansuri River estuary and Kakum River estuary at Iture. The species of mangrove found along the Ghana coast are the red mangroves, Rhizophora racemosa, Rhizophora mangle and Rhizophora harrisonii, the white mangroves Avicennia germinans and Laguncularia racemosa.
Mangrove habitats along the Ghana coast also tend to host a wide variety of fauna species such as oysters, gastropods, crabs, invertebrates, birds and fish. They also play an important role as nursery areas for many species of fish and crustaceans.