This paper discusses the impacts of Climate Change and anthropogenic activities on coastal lagoons in Ghana. Ghana’s coastal lagoons provide unique ecosystem services. However, they are highly fragile and vulnerable to natural processes and anthropogenic activities. Climate Change impacts, such as increased temperatures, sea-level rise, storm surge and increased precipitation are likely to have ecological damage to lagoon ecosystems as a result of erosion, submergence of lagoon barriers, flooding and drying of the surrounding wetlands. Field observation, Geographic Information System modeling were among the methodology applied. The paper identified that anthropogenic activities and Climate Change would combine to have a serious future impact on lagoon ecosystems. Particularly, increased rainfall-induced flooding from the hinterland may be very injurious to the lagoon ecosystem, since the flood water may carry not only nutrients but also various contaminants and solid plastic waste generated by human activities around lagoons catchment into the lagoon channels. Besides, due to the barriers across most lagoon inlets, such polluted runoff water may not be able to flush out to sea, thus impacting negatively on the water quality of the lagoons. The paper proposes some adaptation strategies and recommends the early implementation of Climate Change adaptation strategies, coastal lagoon management measures to prevent potential future destructive impacts.

本文讨论了气候变化和人类活动对加纳沿海泻湖的影响。加纳的沿海泻湖提供独特的生态系统服务。但是，它们非常脆弱，易受自然过程和人为活动的影响。气候变化的影响，例如温度升高，海平面上升，风暴潮和降水增加，可能是由于侵蚀，泻湖屏障的淹没，周围湿地的洪水和干旱而对泻湖生态系统造成的生态破坏。现场观察，地理信息系统建模是所采用的方法之一。该文件指出，人为活动和气候变化将共同对泻湖生态系统产生严重的未来影响。尤其，腹地增加的降雨引发的洪水可能对泻湖的生态系统造成极大伤害，因为洪水不仅会携带营养物，而且还会将泻湖集水区周围人类活动所产生的各种污染物和固体塑料废物带入泻湖通道。此外，由于大多数泻湖入口之间的障碍，这种被污染的径流水可能无法冲出海洋，从而对泻湖的水质产生负面影响。本文提出了一些适应策略，并建议尽早实施气候变化适应策略，沿海泻湖管理措施，以防止未来潜在的破坏性影响。因为洪水不仅会携带营养物，而且还会将人类活动围绕泻湖集水区进入泻湖通道而产生的各种污染物和固体塑料废物运送出去。此外，由于大多数泻湖入口之间的障碍，这种被污染的径流水可能无法冲出海洋，从而对泻湖的水质产生负面影响。本文提出了一些适应策略，并建议尽早实施气候变化适应策略，沿海泻湖管理措施，以防止未来潜在的破坏性影响。因为洪水不仅会携带营养物，而且还会将人类活动围绕泻湖集水区进入泻湖通道而产生的各种污染物和固体塑料废物运送出去。此外，由于大多数泻湖入口之间的障碍，这种被污染的径流水可能无法冲出海洋，从而对泻湖的水质产生负面影响。本文提出了一些适应策略，并建议尽早实施气候变化适应策略，沿海泻湖管理措施，以防止未来潜在的破坏性影响。