Ghanaian communities restore mangroves to protect coastline

For generations, mangroves have acted as a vital natural defense for coastal communities in Ghana's Ada West District, shielding them from tidal waves and erosion. These ecosystems also sustain livelihoods through fishing and crab harvesting. However, unsustainable practices like excessive fuelwood harvesting, pollution, and salt mining have severely degraded these crucial natural barriers.

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For generations, mangroves have served as a natural barrier protecting coastal communities in Ada West District from flooding, tidal waves and shoreline erosion, while supporting livelihoods through fishing, crab harvesting and other ecosystem services.

Now, a significant restoration effort is bringing renewed hope. ActionAid Ghana, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity International, UN-Habitat, and the University of Twente, has launched a large-scale mangrove restoration initiative in the Wokumagbe and Goi communities. This project, funded by the Adaptation Fund under the Improved Resilience of Coastal Communities in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana (IRCC) Project, aims to strengthen climate resilience through ecosystem restoration and community-led adaptation.

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Now, a major restoration effort is offering renewed hope to communities along the coast as residents, traditional authorities, government institutions and development partners collaborate to restore degraded mangrove ecosystems.

The initiative kicked off with a mangrove planting ceremony, marking the start of restoring 38 hectares of degraded land by planting approximately 95,000 mangrove seedlings. This event coincided with World Mangrove Day, celebrated annually on July 26 to highlight the importance of mangroves. The Ada West effort is a component of the IRCC Project's larger goal to restore 410 hectares of mangroves across Ghana, promoting nature-based solutions that protect biodiversity, improve livelihoods, and bolster the ability of coastal communities to withstand climate change impacts. Despite Ghana having an estimated 13,000 to 14,000 hectares of mangrove forests, these ecosystems face continuous pressure, leaving over 60 percent of the coastline vulnerable to erosion and flooding.

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The intervention is being implemented under the Improved Resilience of Coastal Communities in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana (IRCC) Project, funded by the Adaptation Fund, to strengthen climate resilience among vulnerable coastal communities through ecosystem restoration and community-led adaptation.