Ghana is endowed with a diverse array of ecosystems, including tropical high forests, savannas, coastal wetlands, and mangroves, which together create a unique tapestry that supports an abundant biodiversity. The country is home to over 3,600 plant species and a wide variety of animal life, making it a vital area for conservation. Particularly notable is the presence of over 20 butterfly species endemic to the region.

Ghana’s terrestrial ecosystem is categorized into two major biomes—tropical high forest and savannahs—further divided into six agro-ecological zones: the Sudan Savannah, Guinea Savannah, Coastal Savannah, Forest-Savannah Transitional, the Semi-deciduous Forest, and the High Forest zones. These zones reflect the diversity in climate, vegetation, and soils, contributing to the country’s rich biodiversity.

	Score	Rank	Change
Total Score – NCI 2024	48.38	163	N/A
Land Management	59	64	N/A
Protected Areas (Terrestrial)	52	111	N/A
Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	100	1	N/A
Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	45	125	N/A
Protected Areas (Marine)	0	120	N/A
Pristine Habitat (Converted Land)	100	1	N/A
Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution)	49	48	N/A
Sustainable Pesticide Use	65	39	N/A
Threats to Biodiversity	49	172	N/A
Threatened Species (Terrestrial)	91	50	N/A
Threatened Species (Marine)	38	129	N/A
Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas	88	97	N/A
Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas	0	134	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial)	30	87	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Marine)	0	10	N/A
Depleted Fisheries	0	39	N/A
Fishery Pressure in the High Seas	100	49	N/A
Invasive Species Pressure	99	22	N/A
Capacity and Governance	61	108	N/A
Total Management Cost	89	121	N/A
Conservation Culturomics	37	124	N/A
Conservation Legislation	36	109	N/A
Ratification of CBD	100	1	N/A
Ratification of CITES	100	1	N/A
Political Stability and Absence of Violence	50	63	N/A
Control of Corruption	50	66	N/A
Government Effectiveness	48	84	N/A
Future Trends	25	165	N/A
Climate Change Mitigation	25	165	N/A

Four pillars elaborated:

Land Management

Ghana’s tropical forests, covering 10.2% of the nation’s total land area or approximately 2.46 million hectares (20,460 km²), are predominantly located in the southern-western and middle sectors, with most existing within statutory forest reserves. Outside these reserves, traditionally protected forests, such as sacred groves, comprise less than two percent of the total forest area. A significant transition zone that was once forest is now evolving into savannah, characteristic of much of the rest of the country.

Additionally, Ghana has designated five wetlands as Ramsar sites, crucial for their role as stopovers for migratory species and for providing invaluable ecosystem services to local communities, particularly two located in the highly urbanized areas of Accra.

Threats to Biodiversity

Ghana, rich in biological resources, is facing severe threats to its biodiversity due to a multitude of pressures. From 1900 to 1990, the nation lost 80% of its forests primarily to logging and subsequent slash-and-burn agriculture, which along with timber harvesting, wildfires, mining, and a rising demand for fuel wood, continue to decimate local ecosystems. The strong hunting tradition in Ghana exacerbates the situation, with bush meat hunting—particularly of large birds and medium-sized mammals like forest antelopes and monkeys—intensifying due to access via new logging roads.

Additionally, Ghana is grappling with invasive species, climate change, pollution, overfishing, poor resource management, urbanization, and weak national coordination in conservation efforts. Its marine ecosystems suffer from overfishing beyond sustainable limits, destructive fishing practices, and pollution, leading to declining fish stocks, loss of marine biodiversity, habitat destruction, and coastal erosion, all of which threaten both livelihoods and ocean health.

Capacity and Governance

Ghana has formulated the Shared Growth Development Agenda (GSGDA) for 2010-2013, focusing on promoting science and technology, maintaining environmental quality, and incorporating environmental considerations into development policies. The country has established three main forestry policies: the Forest and Wildlife Policy (1994), the Wildfire Policy, and the National Bio-safety in Biotechnology Guidelines.

Additionally, the Fisheries Act of 2002 governs the management of aquatic ecosystems, prohibiting the importation of exotic species and establishing by-laws for small-scale fishing. Furthermore, Ghana has initiated a community-based program known as Community Resource Management Areas (CREMA), which aims to enhance the natural resource management capabilities of communities adjacent to wildlife conservation areas.

Future Trends

Ghana is in the process of formulating its inaugural Biodiversity Policy, which seeks to diminish threats to its extensive biodiversity, encompassing over 6,000 species of flora and fauna. The goal is to foster sustainable use and equitable sharing of biodiversity benefits to fulfill the needs of its population. Currently at the consultation phase, this draft policy aligns with the global biodiversity conservation framework established post-2020.

Biodiversity

Ghana’s coastline along the Atlantic Ocean spans about 560 kilometers and features a variety of habitats, including sandy beaches, lagoons, estuaries, and mangrove swamps. These coastal and marine ecosystems are crucial for numerous species of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, supporting local fisheries and livelihoods. The mangrove forests, in particular, provide essential breeding grounds for fish and shelter for bird species like herons, egrets, and the endangered West African manatee.

In the southern part, tropical rainforests are prominent, particularly in the Western Region and parts of the Ashanti Region. These rainforests are part of the Upper Guinean Forest ecosystem, which is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot. The Kakum National Park and Ankasa Conservation Area are significant protected areas that harbor diverse wildlife, including forest elephants, chimpanzees, pygmy hippos, and various species of monkeys. These forests are also home to a rich diversity of plant species, many of which are endemic or rare.

In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Ghana only):

	Species (World rank)	Threatened	% Threatened	Endemic	% Endemic
Mammals	278 (#33)	21	7.6%	1	0.4%
Birds	681 (#42)	25	3.7%
Reptiles	187 (#51)	8	4.3%	3	1.6%
Amphibians	91 (#39)	24	26.4%	5	5.5%
Fishes	693 (#84)	74	10.7%	9	1.3%
Plants	3,600 (#98)	119	3.3%	1	0.0%