Hεn MPOANO: Western Ghana Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance

Integrated Coastal Management Documents in the Ghana Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance Project

INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT

The case for integrated coastal management for the Western Region, as a forerunner of strengthened national policy and programs is made through a series of policy proposals, practical work in coastal districts as captured by five District ICM Toolkits, a number of technical studies and training events. Key partners Friends of the Nation and Sustainametrix have played important roles in developing these materials.

POLICY ANALYSIS AND PROPOSALS

The fundamental purpose of designating the six coastal districts of the Western Region as a Joint Coastal Management Area’s is to provide for sustained planning and management that addresses the issues that affect the Western Region’s coastal zone as a whole and cannot be effectively addressed by the coastal districts individually. It provides the districts with an explicit high-level mandate and an additional source of funding to work collaboratively on specified issues posed by development in the Western region’s coastal zone. The joint development planning and management process (J-CAMP) is to manage, preserve, protect, develop, and where possible restore, for this and succeeding generations, the resources of the coastal zone of the Western Region. This would be accomplished through comprehensive and coordinated long range planning and management designed to produce the maximum long-term benefit for society. The sustainable use of socio-ecological systems would be the primary guiding principle upon which alterations and new uses in the coastal zone would be measured, judged and regulated.

  • Hɛn Mpoano Policy Brief Series A Nested Coastal and Marine Governance System: Policy Brief 1 Coastal Resources Center, GSO/URI 1 December 2012This brief puts forward options for a nested coastal governance system. These ideas will be refined and augmented by ideas introduced by other papers in the series. The papers will focus on coastal and fisheries issues in the western region to identify their causes, social, economic and environmental implications and how they might be addressed by a strengthened governance system. These briefs draw upon Hɛn Mpoano’s “learning by doing” process as it works with communities, districts, governmental agencies and other stakeholders to practically address problems and specific opportunities along the coast and within the fishery. The process and proposal is supported by the advisory council of the Hɛn Mpoano initiative.
  • Hen Mpoano Policy Brief Series, Managing Our Coastal Wetlands: Lessons from the Western Region: Policy Brief 2

    Though the government of Ghana has made clear commitments for wetlands management and protection, there remain significant challenges in the implementation of conservation strategies and encroachment and degradation continues to evolve. The Western Region is home to some of the richest and most diverse coastal wetlands areas in Ghana and yet there are no formal mechanisms for their management and protection. These wetlands provide a host of critical functions and services but they are increasingly under threat for accelerated development resulting from the rapidly evolving oil and gas sector and record high commodity prices for a host of products exported from the region. This paper proposes a “way forward” that calls not only for commitment within agencies of government but also the active involvement of civil society and a change in the attitude of the traditional authorities and private sector interests that are fueling, directly or indirectly, the threats to the coastal wetlands of the Western Region. It also suggests mechanisms for managing and protecting vital wetlands resources in the western region

This brief proposes a dual structure for adaptive fisheries co-management. Building upon the disappointments of earlier attempts at community based fisheries management, it recognizes the differences inherent in the management of highly migratory pelagics while encouraging local management units to develop and implement plans that improve conditions at landing sites and manage artisanal fisheries for non-migratory species in selected near-shore areas.

This issue brief highlights the key issues facing Ghana’s Western Region in terms of fresh water supply and distribution and recommends policy options to protect water resources and insure equity in their use and distribution.

This issue brief highlights the key issues facing Ghana’s Western Region in terms of coastal flooding in low-lying areas as well as shoreline erosion, and recommends policy options to improve public safety and reduce environmental impacts.

TOOLKITS FOR DISTRICT LEVEL COASTAL MANAGEMENT

This document is the compilation of the research and planning information generated during the four year Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance Project. It summarizes key findings, presents maps and case studies and provides abstracts of more than 25 technical reports, all from the perspective of the District. The toolkit also provides detailed guidance on how fisheries and coastal management issues can be incorporated into the District’s mid-term development plan and spatial development framework. Accompanying the document distributed to each District is a CDROM with electronic copies of all the reference materials covered in the text.

This document is the compilation of the research and planning information generated during the four year Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance Project. It summarizes key findings, presents maps and case studies and provides abstracts of more than 25 technical reports, all from the perspective of the District. The toolkit also provides detailed guidance on how fisheries and coastal management issues can be incorporated into the District’s mid-term development plan and spatial development framework. Accompanying the document distributed to each District is a CDROM with electronic copies of all the reference materials covered in the text.

This document is the compilation of the research and planning information generated during the four year Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance Project. It summarizes key findings, presents maps and case studies and provides abstracts of more than 25 technical reports, all from the perspective of the District. The toolkit also provides detailed guidance on how fisheries and coastal management issues can be incorporated into the District’s mid-term development plan and spatial development framework. Accompanying the document distributed to each District is a CDROM with electronic copies of all the reference materials covered in the text.

This document is the compilation of the research and planning information generated during the four year Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance Project. It summarizes key findings, presents maps and case studies and provides abstracts of more than 25 technical reports, all from the perspective of the District. The toolkit also provides detailed guidance on how fisheries and coastal management issues can be incorporated into the District’s mid-term development plan and spatial development framework. Accompanying the document distributed to each District is a CDROM with electronic copies of all the reference materials covered in the text.

This document is the compilation of the research and planning information generated during the four year Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance Project. It summarizes key findings, presents maps and case studies and provides abstracts of more than 25 technical reports, all from the perspective of the District. The toolkit also provides detailed guidance on how fisheries and coastal management issues can be incorporated into the District’s mid-term development plan and spatial development framework. Accompanying the document distributed to each District is a CDROM with electronic copies of all the reference materials covered in the text.

TECHNICAL REPORTS ON INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT ISSUES

In 2011 and 2012, Hen Mpoano assessed 77 Western Region coastal communities in the Districts of Jomoro, Ellembelle, Nzema East and Ahanta West to gain an understanding of both the concerns and capacity reveals that adaptive capacity is greatly dampened in coastal communities, which are already enduring economic problems related to reliance on access to farmland, fish and natural resources. Some locations are faring better than others for some dimensions of adaptation capacity, but overall coastal communities have weak ability to respond to emergencies generated by natural hazards, suffer social and economic development challenges that will only be worsened, and have a relatively low ability to manage coastal areas and resources in a way that will assure sustained productivity and environmental quality.

This assessment of critical coastal habitats of the Western Region, Ghana, ranks 20 coastal ecosystems and describes 10 of these in detail.

This review of biodiversity threats in the coastal zone of the Western Region of Ghana covers both terrestrial and marine systems and includes maps and descriptions of important wetlands and habitats.

This report details A Rocha Ghana’s engagement with religious leaders in six coastal districts in the Western Region of Ghana from the 12th of December 2011 to the 9th of February 2012. In all, over 123 religious leaders were trained in reference theology on environmental stewardship and creation care. The programme led to the establishments of six interfaith eco-networks in six coastal districts in the western region of Ghana. The programme was a big success and both participants and organisers benefited immensely from the exchanges and experiences shared. The main recommendations for keeping the fire burning is ensuring that the eco-networks which have been established live beyond the lifespan of Hen Mpoano to perform the functions of mobilising religious organisations and advocating for responsible coastal resource use in the Western Region of Ghana.

This document compiles for inter-related studies on fisheries in the Western Region. 1. Illegal, destructive and non-sustainable fishing practices abound in the Central Region and for that matter the coastal areas of the country. Attempts to deal with it might not come cheaply. It will require a great deal of tact, diplomacy, lobbying and education, by-partisans and a well co-ordinated approach. 2. The issue of premix fuel continues to pose a challenge with daily reports of shortages, diversion, corruption and smuggling to neighbouring countries. The methodology helped to elicit possible causes of the current situation of the premix fuel in the country. Following from this, the methodology looked at the research design, the sampling techniques, the data collection methods to be applied and the analysis of the data. 3. The contribution of marine fisheries to Ghana’s economy in terms of GDP, employment, livelihood, food security and poverty reduction of participants cannot ne overstated. Artisanal fishing in particular contributes about 70-80% of the total annual volume of marine catch of the country. Fish stocks have been overexploited as it is a naturally occurring common pool resource with open access. This study investigates the operations of the CBFMCs in the Western Region and identify lessons for future successful operations. 4. The findings of the fourth study are divided into three main parts to reflect the themes and sub-themes that informed the interviews. The themes include but are not limited to the description and traditional beliefs about the sea, sea creatures and sea gods and their influences on fishing.

Based on the emerging potential of blue carbon as a climate change mitigation mechanism, Coastal Resources Center, a USAID funded project in the south-west of Ghana contracted NCRC to conduct a preliminary assessment of carbon stocks in the mangrove and swamp forest ecosystems in the greater Amanzule wetlands (spanning from the Ankobra River to the western shoreline bordering Cote d’Ivoire). The objective of the assignment was to generate baseline information on total carbon stocks, as well as carbon stock changes associated with various land-use dynamics in the wetlands. The intention was to generate useful data that will give insights for decision-making regarding REDD+ potentials in the landscape. Given the enormous carbon stocks that were recorded in the wetlands, relative to terrestrial forests and land cover, interests in a possible REDD+ initiative were heightened. However, critical data gaps for a viable REDD+ pathway remained unanswered.

Field visits made to several fish landing sites in the Western Region reveal gender issues that need to be taken into account at every stage of the Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance project.

The report identifies opportunities for integrating family planning, health and nutrition interventions into coastal-fisheries governance agendas identified for the coastal districts of Ghana’s Western Region. It summarizes the consultant’s findings and recommendations for integrating FP/RH and other health, nutrition and food security interventions into the ICFG framework.

Ghana’s mangrove ecosystems are tremendously valuable, providing ecosystem services like carbon sequestration, protection from storms, floods, and erosion, provision of timber and non-timber forest products, processing of waste and nutrient pollution, aquaculture and agriculture support, and habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species. In the lower Volta, the total estimated value for mangrove related harvesting (fish smoking, house roofing). Yet, like as in many other parts of the world, short-term development needs are undermining long-term mangrove health and survival. Fortunately, economic mechanisms have the potential to tip the balance toward restoration, maintenance, and protection of mangrove forests. The need for proper valuation of mangrove ecosystem services underpins such mechanisms towards the establishment of any realistic payment for ecosystem services scheme in any given mangrove or wetland habitat.

This report provides information on the conditions and environmental, social and economic issues faced by 89 coastal communities in the six coastal districts of Ghana’s Western Region.

The ICFG established partnerships with a number of civil society organizations in six coastal districts of the Western Region of Ghana through award small grants. The purpose was to assist them to implement community based projects that would contribute to realizing the objectives of the Hen Mpoano initiative. The program covered the period 2010 to 2012 with 21 civil society groups receiving financial support. Activities under the small grants scheme focused in most cases on wetlands conservation, ecotourism, behavior change and diversified livelihood. At end of the grant period a survey was carried out to gather information the documentation of the results achieved and lessons learned during the implementation of the small grants scheme.

TRAINING

  • ICFG Training 1 Summary (2010) Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island 3 February 2010This three day program in early February 2010 was designed to discuss and apply the methods being introduced by the Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance Initiative. These include the ecosystem approach, examination of long term trends, analysis of the existing governance system, techniques for assembling a baseline as a reference point for future change and framing strategies for achieving a desirable future in a specific place.
  • Summary of the Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance Initiative (ICFG) Training # 2 Coastal Resources Center, GSO/URI 29 April 2010This four day program held in April 2010 was designed to discuss and apply the methods being introduced by the Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance Initiative, building on Training #1 held in February of the same year. Featured modules include the community characterization, shoreline management, biodiversity, fisheries, goals and policies of integrated initiatives, and an interaction with the Advisory Council.