Resource information
The West African coastal zone hosts
critical natural resources and habitats that provide
important ecosystem services. The area’s natural resources
play vital roles in the functioning of the shoreline,
providing natural protection against erosion, pollution, sea
level rise, and extreme weather events. Coastal and marine
ecosystems, including cold-water coral reefs, sea¬grass
meadows, mangrove forests, and coastal wetlands and lagoons,
also provide indispensable ecosystem services for the
fisheries sector, as spawning and nursery areas for fish.
The destruction and degradation of coastal natural resources
has trans-boundary impacts. Joint efforts are therefore
needed to develop win-win solutions. Regional collaboration
and integrated decision making on the part of West African
coastal countries is paramount if long-term, viable
solutions are to be identified and implemented.
