Let’s take actions to protect our wetlands – UNDP Ghana
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana, has urged Ghanaians to put in efforts to protect wetlands and make the world a safer place to live. On Wednesday, February 2, 2022, the world celebrated Wetlands day for the first time in history after the United Nations General Assembly had adopted a resolution to mark the day.
UNDP Ghana took to their Twitter page to educate Ghanaians on the need to protect the nation’s wetlands.
“Wetlands are important as they help reduce pollution, recharge groundwater supplies, control floods, & provide homes for a variety of plants & animals.
“On #WorldWetlandsDay, let us all take action to protect our wetlands to make the a safer place for all. #ActForWetlands
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GHANA’S WETLAND ECOSYSTEM
Wetlands are found across Ghana and are significant for both their essential biological functions and socio-economic advantages. Wetlands are intimately linked to the country’s many interior freshwater and coastal marine systems. Coastal lagoon systems and mangroves provide a link between freshwater and marine ecosystems. There are also highland wetlands, which are uncommon and restricted in number.
Along Ghana’s 500-kilometer coastline, there are various marine and brackish wetlands. The Keta Lagoon Complex, Songhor, Sakumo, Muni lagoons, and the Densu Delta have all been declared as Ramsar Sites because of their national and international importance for fishing and as overwintering sites for a variety of Palearctic migratory waterbirds.
The Amanzuri, Ehulu, Korle, Kpeshie, Butre, and Fosu lagoons, as well as the Ankobra and Whin estuaries, are all notable wetlands.
Agriculture, water supply, leisure, and other ecosystem services rely on Ghana’s freshwater wetlands. Despite this, they have not been sufficiently documented. Ghana’s only inland Ramsar Site is the Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary. Upland wetlands are an uncommon environment in Ghana, having just a few of them. This is typically a marshy region at high elevations that serves as the source of rivers and streams. A very tiny marshy patch at the summit of one of the peaks in the Atewa Range Forest Reserve is a nice example of a highland wetland in Ghana.
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