Dependency on mangroves for livelihood Threats or challenges to sustainability

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4.7.4 Dependency on mangroves for livelihood

The livelihood importance of mangroves in some coastal communities surveyed is illustrated in Plate 15. It was observed during the survey that in the tidal zone of all estuaries and lagoons in coastal areas of Ghana mangroves are important resources serving as a source of firewood for fish smoking and domestic cooking. Along the Volta estuary in the Keta and Ketu Districts as well as in the Pra delta in Shama Ahanta District, production and trading in mangrove fuelwood for fish smoking is an important economic activity to some households and the local economy. The entire mangrove plant i.e. the stem, roots and branches is used for fish smoking. The wood is used for charcoal production, lumber or poles for construction of houses, bridges and for wood working. The mangrove ecosystem is also a habitat for crabs, fishes and other crustaceans as well as fish nurseries. Mangroves also provide scenic beauty in the landscape particularly along the estuaries in the Volta and Ankobra deltas and are potential resources for ecotourism development. Plate 18 Livelihood options associated with the mangrove in the Volta estuaries 104 Plate 19 Mangrove as fish nursery, landscape scenic beauty and barrier to erosion and pollutants -Keta District Plate 20 Trading mangrove fuelwood: Units of sale at the harvesting point and on the market

4.7.5 Threats or challenges to sustainability

Over exploitation of the mangrove fuelwood and poor management of the mangrove stand Plate 18 are threats to the sustainability of the resource especially for fish nursery. Further, 105 in some areas in the Central and Western Regions where the resource is on community wetland, exploitation is not regulated. The principal problem resource owners encounter with mangroves is its long gestation period as the wood is harvested throughout the year and the rate of regeneration is slow. Extensive cutting-Volta Poor management-Central Plate 21 Potential threats to mangrove ecosystem sustainability

4.7.6 Options for sustainable utilization and conservation of mangroves as fish nurseries