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<p>The Muni-Pomadze Lagoon in Winneba, Ghana, is an important ecosystem that underpins biodiversity, water purification, and livelihoods. The research evaluates how urban sprawl together with encroachment affects the size of the lagoon along with its water quality and biodiversity standing. It also examines current conservation strategies’ effectiveness. The study adopted a mixed-method approach, which combined quantitative surveys of 80 respondents with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Regression analysis of lagoon shrinkage showed that the size of the lagoon has been decreasing by 2.5% annually, which is equal to 25% loss within a decade (R² = 1.000, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). Water quality seriously deteriorated, with a 4-unit annual rise in pollution level, a 200% rise since 2013 (R² = 1.000, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). Biodiversity was reduced by 40%, the number of species decreased from 50 to 30 over the same period. Strong correlations were found between lagoon degradation and population growth (<i>r</i> = 0.92, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01) and infrastructure developments (<i>r</i> = 0.89, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), and residual analysis singled out weak policy enforcement as a key unaccounted factor. The highlighted inadequate conservation efforts, poor zoning enforcement, and poor community awareness of the role in this decrease. Current measures, such as buffer zones, have proven inadequate. Without intervention, projections indicate an additional 15% loss in lagoon size and further biodiversity loss by 2033. It is, therefore, a call for the enforcement of zoning laws to the letter, increased funding for conservation, community initiatives, and adaptive management practices. Integration of urban planning with ecological preservation is very important to arrest this trend of degradation. These findings have increased the need for integrated policies that balance urban development with the sustainability of Ghana’s coastal wetlands, ensuring long-term ecosystem services and community resilience.</p>

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Assessing the impacts of urban sprawl and encroachment on Muni-Pomadze Lagoon ecosystem at Winneba, Ghana

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月29日

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  • Aninakwah Enock,
  • Aninakwah Isaac

摘要

The Muni-Pomadze Lagoon in Winneba, Ghana, is an important ecosystem that underpins biodiversity, water purification, and livelihoods. The research evaluates how urban sprawl together with encroachment affects the size of the lagoon along with its water quality and biodiversity standing. It also examines current conservation strategies’ effectiveness. The study adopted a mixed-method approach, which combined quantitative surveys of 80 respondents with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Regression analysis of lagoon shrinkage showed that the size of the lagoon has been decreasing by 2.5% annually, which is equal to 25% loss within a decade (R² = 1.000, p < 0.0001). Water quality seriously deteriorated, with a 4-unit annual rise in pollution level, a 200% rise since 2013 (R² = 1.000, p < 0.0001). Biodiversity was reduced by 40%, the number of species decreased from 50 to 30 over the same period. Strong correlations were found between lagoon degradation and population growth (r = 0.92, p < 0.01) and infrastructure developments (r = 0.89, p < 0.01), and residual analysis singled out weak policy enforcement as a key unaccounted factor. The highlighted inadequate conservation efforts, poor zoning enforcement, and poor community awareness of the role in this decrease. Current measures, such as buffer zones, have proven inadequate. Without intervention, projections indicate an additional 15% loss in lagoon size and further biodiversity loss by 2033. It is, therefore, a call for the enforcement of zoning laws to the letter, increased funding for conservation, community initiatives, and adaptive management practices. Integration of urban planning with ecological preservation is very important to arrest this trend of degradation. These findings have increased the need for integrated policies that balance urban development with the sustainability of Ghana’s coastal wetlands, ensuring long-term ecosystem services and community resilience.