The ripple effect of lost ecosystems and biodiversity in the Volta River Estuary, a Ramsar site in Ghana
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The ripple effect of lost ecosystems and biodiversity in the Volta River Estuary, a Ramsar site in Ghana
Recurrent
sea level rises triggered by randomly large-scale circulation of the Atlantic
Ocean at an abrupt speed release either intense sea heat, burning the
phytospecies closest to the shorelines, or highly acidic seawater
(‘saltwater’), contaminating top-soil and disrupting hydroregimes and
biosystems in the estuary.
1. Irreversible coastal erosion in the delta caused by repeated tidal waves
or storm floods is alarmingly expanding above 2.2 m/yr to deplete coconut
groves, mangroves and other coastal biodiversity assets, including Ramsar
sites, thereby putting human lives and settlements at high risk.
2. Localised oyster extinction and a frightening rate of oyster
deaths/mortality is sparking eco-conflicts and ethnic tensions among divers
competing for limited diving spaces.
3. Uncontrollable storm flooding submerges livestock, tree/food/arable
crops and biodiversity assets to increase the vulnerability of deprived rural
households to polycrises of acute poverty, hunger and unemployment.
4. Atlantic Ocean effect is fast-spreading climate-induced NELDs in the
VRE, especially causing human displacements at Fuveme and Azizanya. The FSSRC
Basic School is a deprived school in climate emergency that deserves urgent
greening, public educational policy attention and actionable philanthropic
interventions.
