A research framework to assess the contribution of the mangrove ecosystem to the well-being of coastal communities in Africa

Mangroves occur in tropical and temperate tidal areas and are characterized as productive and dynamic. Africa holds 20% of the total global mangroves, with 74% along the western coast and 26% towards the eastern shore. The African continent has coastal zones dependent on providing mangrove ecosystems as they offer several services that benefit livelihoods, food security, and the environment. In West Africa, Nypa fruticans, an invasive Southeast Asian species, has become a threat in countries like Nigeria. It competes with native mangrove species and impacts biodiversity, altering the structure and function of local ecosystems. This systematic review utilizes the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology in its main scope of reviewing literature that highlights the social, economic, and environmental significance of mangroves to the coastal communities of Africa. The review involved four stages: Data Acquisition, Data Screening, Data extraction, and Data Analysis. Alongside traditional literature sources, relevant publications were obtained from Google Scholar, Web of Science, Elsevier Scopus and PubMed Central. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were considered in this systematic review. 157 articles were selected to analyze and interpret themes developed using NVIVO software. The results point to a high level of contribution to mangrove ecosystems, which is a multi-layered framework. The first comprises coastal communities, mangroves and environmental impacts. The effects addressed in ecological terms (Layer 1) include climate change and human activities in Layer 2, which directly threaten the health of mangroves, leading to sea level rise and pollution that affects the ecosystem and human communities alike. Health benefits, socio-economic benefits and security, livelihoods, and cultural values were critical subjects in Layer 2 socio-economic measures. Other, less frequently mentioned, but to a lesser extent, determinants (Layer 3) comprised a range of issues: industrial waste, urban expansion, and chemical run-off. This review explores the fact that managing mangroves sustainably is necessary for maintaining the resilience and health of coastal communities in Africa.