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Improved governance of the landscape: coastal climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning coastal
land use planning, human capacity dev.
Improved governance of the seascape: improved fisheries enforcement, information management,
human capacity development Improved governance of the landscape:
fishery value chain assessments and improvements
Improved governance of the landscape: coastal climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning coastal
land use planning, human capacity dev.
Improved governance of the seascape: improved fisheries enforcement, information management,
human capacity development Improved governance of the landscape:
fishery value chain assessments and improvements
Improved governance of the landscape: coastal climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning coastal
land use planning, human capacity dev.
Improved governance of the seascape: improved fisheries enforcement, information management,
human capacity development Improved governance of the landscape:
fishery value chain assessments and improvements
Figure 5: USAID FtF Results Framework in Relation to H İn Mpoano Program Elements
1.4 H εn Mpoano’s Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation in Ghana
Areas of Biological Significance
The six focal districts of the H İn Mpoano Initiative within the Western Region harbor
biologically significant coastal and marine biodiversity assets of Ghana. Their many wetland ecosystems fresh and brackish water are important nursery grounds for juvenile fish, critical
habitat for migratory waterfowls and a sink for carbon. Also, the sandy shores are nesting areas for 4 endangered marine turtles and several species of dolphins. The Cape Three Points Forest
Reserve the last coastal rainforest in West Africa has two rare species of primates and is a designated Globally Significant Biodiversity AreaImportant Bird Area GSBAIBA. Offshore
of Cape Three Points is an important calfing ground for the humpback whale.
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Threats to Biodiversity
A number of studies were carried out during Phase I Year I of the project which identified threats to the biodiversity assets of the coastal areas of the Western Region and provided baseline
environmental information on their current status and conditions. The studies included:
• Biodiversity Threats Assessment of the Western Region • Assessment of Critical Coastal Habitats of the Western Region
• Rapid Biodiversity Assessment of Three Urban Wetlands of the STMA • Assessment of Local Knowledge of Fishing Grounds and critical habitats in the Nzema
East and Ahanta West Districts The major threats to biodiversity were identified as:
• Over-exploitation of marine fisheries resources including use of destructive fishing practices
• Loss of coastal habitat due to destruction of wetlands • Pollution of the marine and coastal environment from land based sources - enriching
coastal waters with nutrients leading to blooms of marine green algae • Climate change impacts
• Weak governance, legislation and institutional framework, and lack of political will to enforce legislation
• Development of offshore oil and gas resources
How the Project is Addressing these Threats
Activities in Year II and detailed in Section 2 of this report have been designed to address identified threats. They include the following key objectives:
• Protection of the Amanzuri wetlands and initiating steps to raising its status to a Ramsar site due to its special biodiversity features
• Development of legislation for the protection and conservation of the Cape Three Points Forest reserve
• Protecting endangered species such as marine turtles, cetaceans and manatees • Improving land use planning that prevent conversion of critical coastal wetlands and
protect fishing settlements and fish production infrastructure from impacts of climate change
• Establishment of by-laws to protect three wetlands in the STMA • Improved enforcement of the fisheries laws that are designed to reduce overfishing and
destructive fishing • Supporting actions for the establishment of the first Marine Protected Areas in Ghana to
protect critical habitats where fish spawn
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• Applied research to determine the source of the harmful algal bloom green-green in the coastal waters of the two westernmost districts which impact adversely on fishing
livelihoods and the coastal communities • Providing diversified livelihood opportunities for fishing households to make them less
dependent on fishing
Figure 6: Illegally caught live turtles in the trunk of a Taxi
Figure 7:Rescued turtles released to sea near Cape Three Points
1.5 How the Project is Monitoring Progress on Addressing Biodiversity and FtF Objectives
