Regenerating Mangroves as Nature-based Solutions to Coastal Hazards: Implications for Sustainable Livelihoods in the Volta Delta, Ghana (Atiglo et al., 2025)

The Kunming-Montreal Global Diversity Framework includes strategies to reduce biodiversity loss and restore degraded ecosystems. In Ghana, mangrove ecosystems are experiencing rapid degradation despite their ecological and economic relevance to coastal communities, and efforts to restore and conserve mangrove areas. Studies on the interrelationship between mangroves and sustainable livelihoods for indigenous coastal communities are scant although they are interdependent. This study employed a co-design transdisciplinary approach that involved remote sensing, transect walks and non-participant observation, 17 age- and sex-stratified focus group discussions from five mangrove-using communities and 15 key informant interviews with community leaders, government officials and mangrove owners. Interviews and discussions covered mangrove use and valuation, economic activities, gender roles and social relations, community benefits and conflicts, adaptation and change and future outlook of mangrove-based livelihoods. Findings indicate that mangroves are central to the livelihoods of local communities in the Volta Delta, mainly fuelwood harvesting and trade, as well as fishing and fish processing, tourism and small-scale commerce. Fuelwood harvesting and trade constitute the single largest economic livelihood source in many communities. Secondly, long-term mangrove conservation conflicts with local livelihoods, thus, regenerating mangrove systems is threatened by unsustainable continuous harvesting practices. Other challenges to mangrove conservation include land tenure conflicts, and environmental factors including declining soil quality and drainage issues. Community-led conservation strategies, such as Community Resource Management Areas (CREMA), promote sustainable harvesting practices and the introduction of alternative livelihoods in eco-tourism and aquaculture. However, the short-term economic returns are insignificant, and have the tendency to impoverish members of the value chain who provide labour for harvesting, handling and transporting. The success of mangrove conservation efforts depends on the cooperation of significant members in the mangrove trade value chain, and the availability of economically viable and culturally sensitive alternative livelihoods. This study underscores the importance of community education, inclusive compensation schemes, and strengthening of CREMAs to enhance local engagement in regenerating lost mangrove areas for conservation. The research aligns with the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development which seek to deliver the best knowledge available to decision makers.