Mangrove forests provide a wide range of valuable uses or benefits that contribute to the wellbeing
of inhabitants in coastal communities. This study evaluated the economic and ecological contribution
of mangrove resources to coastal livelihoods in communities that depend on the Kakum and Pra River
estuaries and the impact of the uses on the structural development of the mangrove species. Information
on the utilization of mangrove resources was obtained from 136 respondents in ten communities,
using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Structural parameters of the mangrove species
were estimated and the data analysed using descriptive statistics and regression. The study revealed
that coastal inhabitants harvested fuelwood, timber (poles), crabs and periwinkles from both mangrove
forests, while tilapia was collected from only the Pra mangrove forest. About 34 % of the respondents
depended solely on mangrove resource harvesting as their main occupation. The mean net annual
incomes derived from fuelwood and periwinkles were about US $ 1,000 – 1,730 and US $ 660 –
2,000 respectively, whereas that from tilapia was about US $ 2,310, per respondent. The observation
suggested that mangroves income contributed substantially (about 65%) to the overall income of the
mangrove resource users. All the mangrove species had low structural developments in terms of size
and height. Given that widespread harvesting of mangrove trees affects their structural development,
this study therefore makes a compelling case to strengthen conservation strategies at the local level
to ensure sustainable utilization of these mangrove forests. |
University of Cape Coast