Effects of sea level rise on the coastal zone Loss of Wetlands Wetlands in Africa consist of brackish mangrove swamps, forest swamps and marshes. The mangroves are very important ecologically because they provide spawning and nursery grounds for many coastal fish species. They also serve as the habitats for some of the crustaceans and molluscs. Increased salinity of mangroves and fresh water swamps will lead to the decimation of the mangroves not resistant to the high saline environment. The forest resource along the Eastern African coastal zone is mainly mangrove forest and constitutes up to 5,100 sq.km.
Agriculture is practised along most of the coastal zone.
Sea level rise will result in loss of these agriculturally rich wetlands. The fresh water swamps which support immense agricultural practice for example, the Nile delta, could be polluted with saline water and soils and result in diminished food production for the already near to starving population in the area. Increased rates of beach erosion Beach erosion is one of the gravest ecological problems affecting the West and Central African region, parts of the low-lying East African coastline Including the island states and even the Mediterranean coastline. Present typical rates established at erosion monitoring stations include more than 25-30 m annually at Bar beach in Lagos. The beaches off Abidjan and Grand Bassam in Cote d'Ivoire have been reported to be receding as a result of beach erosion.