Full scientific report: Ghana
Generated 13 November 2026, 02:56 from live Atlas data
Executive summary
Atlas holds 118,503 mapped features and 37,971 observations in 29 datasets. The mapped mangrove canopy covers 9,126 ha in 2,198 polygons across 1 formation classes; Mangrove dominates with 100.0% of the area. The median patch is only 0.178 ha, while patches of 10 ha or more hold 86.9% of the area. 0 ha (0.0%) lies within 10 km of the LAPSSET development footprint.
Single mapping epoch (2019). Areas are geodesic hectares recalculated from geometry.
Species & formations
| Formation | Polygons | Area (ha) | Share | Mean patch (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mangrove | 2,198 | 9,125.9 | 100.0% | 4.15 |
Fragmentation & landscape metrics
- Patches
- 2,198
- Mean / median / largest
- 4.15 / 0.178 / 3,425.3 ha
- Effective mesh size
- 1,382.6 ha
- Largest patch index
- 37.5%
- Power-law exponent α
- 1.70
Spatial clustering
Global Moran’s I = 0.248 (z = 3.3, p = 0.001). Hot-spot cells (Gi*, ≥95%): 8; cold-spot cells: 2.
| Top hot-spot cell | Polygons | Area (ha) | Gi* z |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.75, 0.65 | 93 | 96 | 3.94 |
| 5.8, 0.65 | 99 | 169 | 3.56 |
| 5.75, 0.7 | 79 | 565 | 3.51 |
| 5.75, 0.75 | 36 | 21 | 3.30 |
| 5.8, 0.7 | 128 | 3,667 | 2.66 |
| 5.85, 0.65 | 4 | 1 | 2.49 |
Pressure: LAPSSET and villages
Mangrove ha by distance from LAPSSET
Mangrove ha by distance from villages
Data quality
| Dataset | Features | Repaired | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, Ghana | 3,237 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, Ghana | 5,583 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, Ghana | 7,459 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, Ghana | 3,510 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, Ghana | 3,260 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, Ghana | 3,535 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, Ghana | 2,198 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, Ghana | 2,169 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, Ghana | 2,199 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, Ghana | 2,385 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, Ghana | 2,572 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, Ghana | 2,536 | 0 | 100 |
| Large airport | 23 | 0 | 95 |
| Planned Major Roads and Rails | 33 | 0 | 95 |
| Development Corridors | 33 | 0 | 95 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | 126 | 0 | 95 |
| Rivers | 228 | 0 | 95 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | 642 | 0 | 95 |
| Small airport | 1,979 | 0 | 95 |
| Dams | 2,586 | 0 | 95 |
| Districts | 6,099 | 13 | 95 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | 7,438 | 1 | 95 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | 9,759 | 0 | 95 |
| Irrigated Areas | 23,095 | 1 | 95 |
| Agro-Ecological Zones | 25,791 | 17 | 95 |
| Carbon projects: Ghana | 8 | 0 | 90 |
| Seagrass (UNEP-WCMC): Ghana | 4 | 0 | 90 |
| Salt marsh (UNEP-WCMC): Ghana | 2 | 0 | 90 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): Ghana | 14 | 0 | 90 |
Recommendations
Datasets & sources
| Dataset | Publisher | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, Ghana | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 3,237 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, Ghana | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 5,583 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, Ghana | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 7,459 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, Ghana | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 3,510 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, Ghana | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 3,260 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, Ghana | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 3,535 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, Ghana | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,198 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, Ghana | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,169 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, Ghana | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,199 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, Ghana | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,385 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, Ghana | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,572 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, Ghana | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,536 |
| Large airport | WWF Kenya | 23 |
| Planned Major Roads and Rails | WWF Kenya | 33 |
| Development Corridors | WWF Kenya | 33 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | WWF Kenya | 126 |
| Rivers | WWF Kenya | 228 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | WWF Kenya | 642 |
| Small airport | WWF Kenya | 1,979 |
| Dams | WWF Kenya | 2,586 |
| Districts | WWF Kenya | 6,099 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | WWF Kenya | 7,438 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | WWF Kenya | 9,759 |
| Irrigated Areas | WWF Kenya | 23,095 |
| Agro-Ecological Zones | WWF Kenya | 25,791 |
| Carbon projects: Ghana | Berkeley Carbon Trading Project, University of California, Berkeley | 8 |
| Seagrass (UNEP-WCMC): Ghana | UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Short FT | 4 |
| Salt marsh (UNEP-WCMC): Ghana | UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Short FT | 2 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): Ghana | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | 14 |