The untapped potential of Ghana’s peatlands: A path to climate resilience and economic growth
Fun Facts
Did you know that peatlands are essential because of their greenhouse gas emission properties? Did you know peatlands are a nature-based solution to climate change and are crucial for biodiversity? Yet peatlands in Ghana remain underutilized, poorly understood, and vulnerable to degradation.
To unlock their potential for climate resilience and economic growth, the nation must learn from global examples and act decisively to conserve and sustainably manage these invaluable ecosystems.
Peatlands: “Climate Champions”
Peatlands provide many benefits to people and the environment. I call them “the climate champions”! These climate champions cover just 3% of the Earth’s surface but store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined.
Amazing huh! Interestingly, these carbon sinks can also be found in Ghana. Ghana’s peatland is primarily located in the southwestern part of the country, specifically in the Greater Amanzule Wetlands area within the Ellembele and Jomoro districts.
These peatlands have a critical role in mitigating climate change. If these lands are conserved, they could help Ghana reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fulfill its commitments under the Paris Agreement. Regrettably, they are threatened by rapid land use changes, offshore oil and gas development, and high cloud cover.
In a nutshell, peatlands in Ghana are neglected for some reason. The consequences of neglecting peatlands are however, severe. For example, in the past, drained and degraded peatlands in Indonesia became a significant source of carbon emissions, contributing to severe fires that released vast amounts of greenhouse gases annually. On the other hand, countries like the United States and Finland have demonstrated the benefits of the restoration of peatlands.
In Minnesota, for example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has led efforts to restore peatlands in wildlife refuges, preventing carbon release and improving biodiversity. These examples should provide a blueprint for Ghana to prioritize peatland conservation as part of the country’s climate action strategy.
Economic and Agricultural Opportunities
Peatlands are suitable carbon sinks and offer significant opportunities for sustainable agriculture. In the U.S., farmers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California have transitioned to cultivating crops like rice on peatlands to reduce soil subsidence and greenhouse gas emissions.
Ghana can adopt similar strategies, encouraging farmers to grow water-tolerant crops such as rice and cocoyam (taro) in peatland regions. This will boost agricultural productivity and preserve the ecosystem’s carbon storage capacity.
Ecotourism is another untapped opportunity. In northern Scotland, the Flow Country’s peatlands attract thousands of visitors annually, drawn by their unique biodiversity and striking landscapes. Ghana’s peatlands, home to diverse flora and fauna, could become a magnet for ecotourists, generating revenue while promoting conservation.
Peatlands and Water Security
Peatlands are vital in water regulation, reducing flood risks and maintaining water supplies during dry periods. The Everglades in Florida, one of the largest peatland systems in the U.S., serves as a natural water filtration and storage system for millions of people.
For the growing challenges with irregular rainfall and water scarcity Ghana faces, making peatland conservation a cost-effective solution to enhance water security should be a top priority. For example, restoring degraded peatlands in Ghana can improve water quality, support agriculture, and strengthen rural livelihoods dependent on groundwater sources.
Global Lessons for Ghana
Several countries have implemented innovative policies to protect and restore peatlands. For example, the United Kingdom’s Peatland Action Program has restored over 25,000 hectares of degraded peatlands, preventing carbon release and boosting local biodiversity.
Germany is piloting “paludiculture,” cultivating crops like reeds and cattails on wet peatlands to preserve their carbon storage functions while generating income. After years of devastating peatland fires in Indonesia, the country established the Peatland Restoration Agency, which has restored millions of hectares, reducing fire risks and emissions.
These efforts highlight the importance of government commitment, community engagement, and international collaboration in peatland management. Ghana can draw on these examples to develop a national peatland strategy integrating conservation with sustainable development.
The Case for State Ownership
Treating peatlands as state property is a pragmatic approach to safeguarding ecological integrity. When peatlands are managed under public ownership, the government can enforce policies that prioritize conservation and sustainable use. This is particularly important in our part of the world as private ownership has led to the overexploitation of our lands and environmental degradation.
State ownership allows for comprehensive management plans that balance conservation with economic interests. The government can designate peatlands as protected areas, regulate activities that pose risks, and invest in restoration projects.
Moreover, public control ensures that the benefits of peatlands—clean water, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity—are preserved for future generations.
A recently decided U.S. case, Sackett Et Ux. V Environmental Protection Agency et al. (May 25, 2023) is an excellent example of how the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declared a privately purchased property near Priest Lake, Idaho, as “waters of the United States.” The decision provided a clearer guidance for landowners about when their property is subject to federal regulation under the Clean Water Act. Ghana could take a cue from this.
A Call to Action
In addition to state ownership, to unlock the potential of Ghana’s peatlands, the country must act on several fronts; first, for Policy Integration, the government could include peatland conservation in national land-use policies, climate adaptation plans, and environmental protection frameworks.
For Community Partnerships, the government could work with local communities to promote sustainable practices that align livelihoods with conservation goals. As part of Research and Monitoring, the government could invest in mapping and monitoring peatlands to understand their extent, biodiversity, and carbon storage capacity.
Finally, for International Collaboration, Ghana couldengage organizations like the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands – an international treaty of which Ghana has been a member since 1988 – that aims to conserve and sustainably use wetlands to access climate funds for peatland restoration projects in the country.
A Vision for Sustainable Growth
Ghana’s peatlands are more than muddy, waterlogged areas—they are critical ecosystems that hold the key to our climate resilience, water security, and economic growth. By learning from global success stories and taking decisive action, Ghana can transform its peatlands into a cornerstone of sustainable development.
Peatlands may be hidden from view, but their potential is immense. It’s time for Ghana to recognize, protect, and harness this natural treasure for a future that balances prosperity with environmental stewardship.
World Wetlands Day is February 2nd of every year since it was first instituted in 1997. When this day comes around this year, let’s remember to join the world in celebrating peatlands in Ghana. Let’s make it a significant observation in time for the World Peatlands Day celebration on June 2nd.
Climate-smart conservation is key! Let’s harness the diverse potential of these “climate champions” for a sustainable future!The Untapped Potential of Ghana’s Peatlands: A Path to Climate Resilience and Economic Growth
Fun Facts
Did you know Mother Ghana is blessed with diverse ecosystems and rich biodiversity? Did you know the country harbors a hidden treasure known as peatlands? Did you know peatlands are essential ecosystems that store carbon?
Did you know that peatlands, which are waterlogged ecosystems formed from partially decayed organic material over centuries, are among the most efficient carbon sinks on Earth? Did you know that peatlands are essential because of their greenhouse gas emission properties?
Did you know peatlands are a nature-based solution to climate change and are crucial for biodiversity? Yet peatlands in Ghana remain underutilized, poorly understood, and vulnerable to degradation. To unlock their potential for climate resilience and economic growth, the nation must learn from global examples and act decisively to conserve and sustainably manage these invaluable ecosystems.
Peatlands: “Climate Champions”
Peatlands provide many benefits to people and the environment. I call them “the climate champions”! These climate champions cover just 3% of the Earth’s surface but store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined. Amazing huh! Interestingly, these carbon sinks can also be found in Ghana.
Ghana’s peatland is primarily located in the southwestern part of the country, specifically in the Greater Amanzule Wetlands area within the Ellembele and Jomoro districts.
These peatlands have a critical role in mitigating climate change. If these lands are conserved, they could help Ghana reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fulfill its commitments under the Paris Agreement. Regrettably, they are threatened by rapid land use changes, offshore oil and gas development, and high cloud cover.
In a nutshell, peatlands in Ghana are neglected for some reason. The consequences of neglecting peatlands are however, severe. For example, in the past, drained and degraded peatlands in Indonesia became a significant source of carbon emissions, contributing to severe fires that released vast amounts of greenhouse gases annually.
On the other hand, countries like the United States and Finland have demonstrated the benefits of the restoration of peatlands. In Minnesota, for example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has led efforts to restore peatlands in wildlife refuges, preventing carbon release and improving biodiversity.
These examples should provide a blueprint for Ghana to prioritize peatland conservation as part of the country’s climate action strategy.
Economic and Agricultural Opportunities
Peatlands are suitable carbon sinks and offer significant opportunities for sustainable agriculture. In the U.S., farmers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California have transitioned to cultivating crops like rice on peatlands to reduce soil subsidence and greenhouse gas emissions.
Ghana can adopt similar strategies, encouraging farmers to grow water-tolerant crops such as rice and cocoyam (taro) in peatland regions. This will boost agricultural productivity and preserve the ecosystem’s carbon storage capacity.
Ecotourism is another untapped opportunity. In northern Scotland, the Flow Country’s peatlands attract thousands of visitors annually, drawn by their unique biodiversity and striking landscapes. Ghana’s peatlands, home to diverse flora and fauna, could become a magnet for ecotourists, generating revenue while promoting conservation.
Peatlands and Water Security
Peatlands are vital in water regulation, reducing flood risks and maintaining water supplies during dry periods. The Everglades in Florida, one of the largest peatland systems in the U.S., serves as a natural water filtration and storage system for millions of people.
For the growing challenges with irregular rainfall and water scarcity Ghana faces, making peatland conservation a cost-effective solution to enhance water security should be a top priority. For example, restoring degraded peatlands in Ghana can improve water quality, support agriculture, and strengthen rural livelihoods dependent on groundwater sources.
Global Lessons for Ghana
Several countries have implemented innovative policies to protect and restore peatlands. For example, the United Kingdom’s Peatland Action Program has restored over 25,000 hectares of degraded peatlands, preventing carbon release and boosting local biodiversity.
Germany is piloting “paludiculture,” cultivating crops like reeds and cattails on wet peatlands to preserve their carbon storage functions while generating income. After years of devastating peatland fires in Indonesia, the country established the Peatland Restoration Agency, which has restored millions of hectares, reducing fire risks and emissions.
These efforts highlight the importance of government commitment, community engagement, and international collaboration in peatland management. Ghana can draw on these examples to develop a national peatland strategy integrating conservation with sustainable development.
The Case for State Ownership
Treating peatlands as state property is a pragmatic approach to safeguarding ecological integrity. When peatlands are managed under public ownership, the government can enforce policies that prioritize conservation and sustainable use. This is particularly important in our part of the world as private ownership has led to the overexploitation of our lands and environmental degradation.
State ownership allows for comprehensive management plans that balance conservation with economic interests. The government can designate peatlands as protected areas, regulate activities that pose risks, and invest in restoration projects.
Moreover, public control ensures that the benefits of peatlands—clean water, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity—are preserved for future generations. A recently decided U.S. case, Sackett Et Ux. V Environmental Protection Agency et al. (May 25, 2023) is an excellent example of how the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declared a privately purchased property near Priest Lake, Idaho, as “waters of the United States.” The decision provided a clearer guidance for landowners about when their property is subject to federal regulation under the Clean Water Act. Ghana could take a cue from this.
A Call to Action
In addition to state ownership, to unlock the potential of Ghana’s peatlands, the country must act on several fronts; first, for Policy Integration, the government could include peatland conservation in national land-use policies, climate adaptation plans, and environmental protection frameworks. For Community Partnerships, the government could work with local communities to promote sustainable practices that align livelihoods with conservation goals.
As part of Research and Monitoring, the government could invest in mapping and monitoring peatlands to understand their extent, biodiversity, and carbon storage capacity. Finally, for International Collaboration, Ghana couldengage organizations like the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands – an international treaty of which Ghana has been a member since 1988 – that aims to conserve and sustainably use wetlands to access climate funds for peatland restoration projects in the country.
A Vision for Sustainable Growth
Ghana’s peatlands are more than muddy, waterlogged areas—they are critical ecosystems that hold the key to our climate resilience, water security, and economic growth. By learning from global success stories and taking decisive action, Ghana can transform its peatlands into a cornerstone of sustainable development.
Peatlands may be hidden from view, but their potential is immense. It’s time for Ghana to recognize, protect, and harness this natural treasure for a future that balances prosperity with environmental stewardship.
World Wetlands Day is February 2nd of every year since it was first instituted in 1997. When this day comes around this year, let’s remember to join the world in celebrating peatlands in Ghana. Let’s make it a significant observation in time for the World Peatlands Day celebration on June 2nd. Climate-smart conservation is key! Let’s harness the diverse potential of these “climate champions” for a sustainable future!