ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES TO LAGOON SERVICES IN RAPIDLY URBANIZING AREAS: EVIDENCE FROM MUNI-POMADZE LAGOON

The Muni lagoon is among the six internationally recognized coastal wetlands (Ramsar site) under the convention on wetlands because of the role it plays which promoting human livelihood development and the ecosystem. The period of urbanization has resulted in the encroachment of the lagoon leading to the decline of its services. This study investigates the diminishing lagoon services as a result of urbanization, using the Department of Geography and Muni Pomandze lagoon as a case study. The study was largely qualitative Resource Development, and as a result, twenty respondents were selected mainly by purposive University of Ghana, Legon, and snowball samplings. In-depth interviews and personal field Ghana observation were adopted to collect data for the study. The study Email: [email protected] observed that the lagoon provided numerous services to the communities in and around the catchment area of the lagoon. These services include fishing, agricultural activities, hunting expeditions, and breeding and nesting site for migratory birds. From the findings, it was indicated that in recent times, especially due to the emergence of urbanization, the lagoon has been encroached upon by estate developers and other human activities which have undermined the function of the lagoon. It is recommended that stakeholders such as the Municipal Assembly, and Planning Department should zone the catchment area of the lagoon to ensure estate developers are not allowed to encroach upon it. This will ensure that human activities are minimized in the area.