District Level Coastal Management Coastal village issues survey, social and economic data Conservation of Wetlands, Natural Areas and Coastal Lagoons in the Greater

2.3 Focal Area: Greater Amansuri Wetlands and the coastal barrier dunes system

Activity leader: Kofi Agbogah Activity Team: Balerty Gomey, Kwesi Johnson, Richard Adupong, Mark Fenn, Peace Corps Voluneer 2, Paramount Chiefs 2 The Greater Amansuri Wetlands in the coastal plain of Jomoro and Ellembelle Districts are probably the most biologically rich wetland area of Ghana. Yet it has no formal recognition as a conservation area of importance and there is no management plan for the conservation of its unique habitats and biodiversity. The Ghana Wildlife Society, however, has been active in tourism development and promotion, and rural development initiatives. The small population and low immediate threats within the wetland favor the establishment of a larger community co- managed protected area. That said, an extractive industries sector is rapidly evolving in the area and as such poses a potential threat. The paramount chief of the traditional area covering most of wetlands Awulae Annor Adjae III, supports conservation and gaining protected area status for the area—as long as it is co-managed with clear roles for the communities, the chiefs, and the two districts. In Year 2, CRC-Ghana and its partners engaged with a broad group of local leaders and stakeholders in Jomoro and Ellembelle to advance the formulation of a joint management approach to the shared wetlands. Technical assistance to orient the potential for carbon offset funding was provided by Forest Trends and the Nature Conservation Research Centre. Guidance was provided to the Tullow –sponsored district spatial planning effort underway in July, and District staff participated in training events on coastal management and climate change adaptation. General purpose maps were completed for the District and special land use land cover maps initiated using LANDSAT imagery as a baseline for understanding landscape connectivity and change. Detailed shoreline characterization and assessment work was deferred to Year 3. Main activities this year include the following:

2.3.1 District Level Coastal Management Coastal village issues survey, social and economic data

Maintain an up-to-date compendium of the interim products being created for Amansuri Wetlands and shoreline settlements focal area in an ICFG Binder, organized around the priority issues and geographic areas of concern. General purpose maps for District and related training Contribute GIS and other data and inputs to District spatial planning system Shoreline characterization survey Conduct a rapid assessment of shoreline characteristics and uses to update the 2004 environmental atlas and identify areas of particular concern such as shorefront settlements at high risk. 51 Effective participation of coastal stakeholders in District spatial planning Make contributions where appropriate to the Tullow-supported District spatial planning underway in Q1 and Q2, including language that would set a supportive framework for shore management and issues of regional concern, such as gas processing, pipelines, and national issues such as green-green. Hazards and climate change vulnerability assessment, related training, relocation strategy Conduct more detailed shore use and vulnerability assessments for priority shorefront settlements, including the fisheries landing site for value chain and other improvements, and identify adaptation options including resettlement.

2.3.2 Conservation of Wetlands, Natural Areas and Coastal Lagoons in the Greater

Amansuri Wetlands This activity will focus on strengthening ecosystem based management for the shared wetland system. Areas slated for designation or reaffirmation as conservation areas such as the Amansuri will require significant planning, consultations, and investments to ensure their maintenance and viability into the future. Joint action plans will be developed with the government institutions responsible for wildlife, wetlands, and forests while involving key NGOs, notably the Ghana Wildlife Society, the Nature Conservation Research Center, and Forest Trends. Such planning will include feasibility studies for accessing long-term funding through carbon sequestration funds available with the REDD mechanism Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. Several activities aimed at improving the livelihoods and social conditions for the people of the place will also be developed and tested. Assessments of wetlands and surrounding landscapes will be completed for potential to generate sustained revenues as ecosystem of international significance, and for carbon offset market REDD Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries. The result will be a feasibility report and action plan developed for accessing REDD funding. 52 Summary of Key Tasks, Outputs and Targets: Component 2.3 Table of Key Activities and Milestones Task 2.3 Tasks 2.3 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2.3.1 District level coastal management Up-to-date compendium of the interim products in an ICFG Binder X X X X Make contributions where appropriate to the Tullow-supported District spatial planning X X Assessment of shoreline characteristics and identify as shorefront settlements at high risk X X Conduct shore use and vulnerability assessments for priority shorefront settlements and ID adaptation options including resettlement X X Contribute GIS and other data X X X 2.3.2 Conservation of wetlands, natural areas and coastal lagoons in the Greater Amansuri Wetlands Strengthen ecosystem based mgt for the shared wetland system X X X X Complete assessments of wetlands and surrounding landscapes for potential to generate sustained revenues as ecosystem of international significance, and for carbon offset market REDD Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Developing Countries X X List of Key Outputs Task 2.3 ｸ Compendium of interim products including written contributions to the Tullow Oil planning that include shoreline vulnerability and community resilience assessments ｸ GIS products for use by District ｸ Written assessment on financing options for Amansuri Wetlands ｸ Shoreline characterization and vulnerability assessment for selected shorefront settlements ｸ Fish Landing Site value chain improvement and community resilience plan Greater Amansuri Wetlands Contributions to ICM Policy Development Issue analysis Wetlands ecosystem of national significance, vulnerable coastal villages Stakeholder engagement Co-management of shared wetland, rapid village level appraisals, guidance to District spatial planning Planning and Policy Locally led wetlands conservation and management plan; recommendations to District spatial plan; flood hazard and climate change analysis for selected shore front settlements, recommendations to District spatial plans Adoption Wetlands conservation agreements and funding; best practices for vulnerable coastal villages, Spatial development plan policies; Implementation Strengthened comm. wetlands mgt. and improved information in Amansuri Wetlands, progress toward mechanisms for financial stability, securing future resettlement sites and other improved resilience for selected villages 53 Targets relative to PMP Indicators Task 2.3 USAID Indicator Year 3 Target 1 Improvements assessed by governance scorecard developed by CRC Increasing 4 Number of stakeholders participating in resource mgmt initiatives, workshops, regional meetingsexchange visits 200 6 Hectares under Improved Mgmt 5000 7 Amount of private sector or government resources allocated for planning and implementation of ICM USD 150,000 10 Quantity of of greenhouse gas emissions, metric tons CO2, reduced or sequestered as a result of USG assistance To be calculated 11 Number of climate change assessments conducted 2 12 Number of institutions with improved capacity to address climate change issues 4

2.4 Building Livelihood Resilience at the Community Level