Does mangrove vegetation structure reflect human utilization of ecosystem goods and services?
Frederick Asante,
Jean Hugé,
Noble K. Asare,
Farid Dahdouh-Guebas
Affiliations
Frederick Asante
Laboratory of Systems Ecology and Resource Management, Department of Organism Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles – ULB, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Laboratory of Plant Biology and Nature Management, Ecology and Biodiversity, Vrije Universiteit Brussel – VUB, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Corresponding author
Jean Hugé
Laboratory of Systems Ecology and Resource Management, Department of Organism Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles – ULB, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Environmental Sciences, Open University of the Netherlands, Valkenburgerweg 177, 6419 Heerlen, the Netherlands; Centre for Environmental Science, Universiteit Hasselt, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
Noble K. Asare
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Science Building Floor 3, Cape Coast, Ghana; Centre for Coastal Management (CCM), Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Farid Dahdouh-Guebas
Laboratory of Systems Ecology and Resource Management, Department of Organism Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles – ULB, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Laboratory of Plant Biology and Nature Management, Ecology and Biodiversity, Vrije Universiteit Brussel – VUB, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Interfaculty Institute of Social-Ecological Transitions, Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB, Brussels, Belgium; Mangrove Specialist Group (MSG), Species Survival Commission (SSC), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), C/o Zoological Society of London, London, UK
Summary: Many coastal communities in developing countries depend on mangrove ecosystem services (ES). A combination of anthropogenic and environmental stresses threatens mangroves globally. This study at the Ankobra catchment communities in Ghana focused on the relation between ES utilization and mangrove forest structure. Through vegetation survey, we observed significant effects of selective logging, branch cutting, density of Acrostichum aureum, and water stress on tree stocking and sapling densities. We observed through interviews in five communities that about 98% and 88% of mangrove wood harvested are used for fuelwood and construction respectively. The vegetation structure of the forest areas receiving high harvesting pressures was less complex, with lower tree and sapling density, as well as lower seed-bearing trees than less-disturbed areas. Existing mangrove harvesting regulations are compromised to accommodate the needs of the surrounding communities. Recognizing these impacts is important to improve management decisions, address community needs, and reduce pressure on mangroves.
