Mangroves in West Africa: A Policy Brief

This brief provides information and recommendations for policy makers, researchers, and practitioners in national governments and regional institutions in West African coastal countries on how to improve mangrove management strategies and strengthen links to climate change. It is based on the outcomes from the West Africa Regional Expert’s Workshop on Mangroves and Climate Change, held in Elmina, Ghana from May 18-22, 2014. The brief presents recommendations to improve national and regional mangrove-related networks, enhance engagement of policy makers, clarify institutional mandates, and identify priority research needs. In addition to discussing the need to better understand the role mangroves can play in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, the brief identifies a need to value the critical social and economic roles that mangroves play in West Africa and to integrate these roles in future strategies and projects.