ActionAid Ghana, Forestry Commission Renew Commitment to Coastal Resilience on World Wetlands Day 2026 in Anloga
To mark World Wetlands Day 2026, observed under the global theme “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage,” ActionAid Ghana (AAG), in partnership with the Forestry Commission-Ghana, has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Ghana’s coastal wetlands through community-led, nature-based solutions.
The renewed commitment is being advanced through the Improved Resilience of Coastal Communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana (IRCC) Project, which places wetlands particularly mangrove ecosystems at the centre of climate adaptation and resilience-building efforts along Ghana’s vulnerable coastline.
Mangrove wetlands are among the country’s most critical yet increasingly threatened ecosystems. Along Ghana’s coast, they provide natural buffers against erosion, flooding, tidal surges, and storm impacts, while sustaining fisheries, biodiversity, livelihoods, and the cultural heritage of coastal communities.
Under the IRCC Project, ActionAid Ghana is working closely with the Forestry Commission and coastal communities, alongside partners UN-Habitat, Habitat for Humanity International, and the University of Twente, with funding support from the Adaptation Fund. The project promotes wetlands as a sustainable and cost-effective response to escalating climate risks, particularly in the Ada and Anloga districts.
A key pillar of the intervention is mangrove restoration as a nature-based solution that strengthens shoreline protection while delivering environmental and socio-economic benefits. To date, community-led restoration activities have supported the planting of approximately 25,000 mangrove seedlings per hectare, contributing toward a broader target of 1.25 million seedlings across 411 hectares of degraded wetlands. These efforts are restoring ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, and reinforcing natural coastal defences.
Mangroves play a critical role in reducing flood risks by slowing and absorbing excess water during heavy rainfall and high tides; protecting homes and infrastructure from erosion, storm surges, and tidal waves; capturing and storing carbon as highly efficient “blue carbon” sinks; and sustaining livelihoods, particularly fishing and small-scale economic activities vital to coastal households.
In line with this year’s World Wetlands Day theme, the IRCC Project recognises the importance of traditional and indigenous knowledge systems that have historically guided sustainable wetland management. Practices such as selective harvesting, seasonal settlement planning, and local replanting have long contributed to the protection of mangroves and coastal ecosystems.
As part of the World Wetlands Day commemoration, ActionAid Ghana and the Forestry Commission engaged secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Anloga to educate and sensitise young people on the importance of wetland conservation and the preservation of traditional ecological knowledge. The engagement also provided students with insights into the IRCC Project and the role wetlands play in building climate resilience.
Delivering a solidarity message on behalf of ActionAid Ghana, the Head of Programmes, Campaigns and Innovations (HoPCI) Justin Bayor, highlighted the importance of wetlands in protecting biodiversity and underscored how this aligns with the various components of the IRCC Project, including climate-resilient housing, ecosystem restoration, and community adaptation.
He stressed, “Wetlands are not just environmental assets; they are life-support systems for coastal communities."
By integrating traditional knowledge with scientific expertise and institutional support from the Forestry Commission, the project is ensuring that wetland restoration efforts remain locally owned, culturally grounded, and environmentally sound.
Climate impacts along Ghana’s coastline continue to disproportionately affect women, youth, children, and persons with disabilities, heightening risks of displacement, livelihood loss, and food insecurity. By restoring wetlands and strengthening natural protection systems, the IRCC Project is contributing to safer settlements, resilient housing, and improved well-being for vulnerable populations.
As Ghana advances its climate adaptation agenda, ActionAid Ghana is calling for wetlands to be recognised as critical national infrastructure essential to housing resilience, climate policy, and sustainable development planning.
The World Wetlands Day event brought together high-level officials from the Forestry Commission, the District Chief Executive of the Anloga District Assembly, traditional authorities, development partners, civil society organisations, the media, and selected schools from the district.
On this World Wetlands Day, ActionAid Ghana and the Forestry Commission reaffirmed their shared commitment to protecting wetlands, celebrating community knowledge, and building a climate-resilient future where ecosystems and people can thrive together.
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About the IRCC Project
The Improved Resilience of Coastal Communities (IRCC) in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana is a regional climate adaptation initiative funded by the Adaptation Fund. It is implemented by a consortium comprising UN-Habitat (coordinating entity), the University of Twente (Component 1), Habitat for Humanity International (Component 2), and the Abidjan Convention (Component 3), with the governments of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire playing a central role. In Ghana, ActionAid Ghana serves as the implementing partner under Habitat for Humanity International’s leadership for Component 2, which focuses on strengthening the adaptive capacity of vulnerable coastal populations across 21 communities in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.