Negotiating Wetlands: Convivial Conservation and Collective Wetland Management in Ada, Ghana

Across the rapidly urbanizing Global South, wetlands continue to experience intense socio-ecological pressures despite their numerous benefits to humans and wildlife. Protecting wetlands and other ecological resources requires a renewed sense of ecological stewardship, especially in endangered regions. This study contributes to this call by (1) analyzing land cover changes and their associated drivers in the Ada-Songhor wetland area, (2) exploring the various conservation practices deployed and how they impact livelihoods and wetland protection, and (3) examining the role of commons-based approaches such as trust, participation, and institutional coordination in enhancing positive wetland governance outcomes. Using a case study research design that combines satellite imagery analysis with stakeholder interviews, the study finds significant spatial transformations over the past three decades, including a 47% loss of vegetation cover and a 303% increase in bare land, largely due to anthropogenic activities. The findings further show that state-community collaborations have been useful in co-producing convivial conservation practices and community-based approaches to safeguard the wetlands. Overall, the study's findings highlight the socio-ecological and governance complexities of wetlands management and underscore the benefits of collaborative, well-coordinated, and socially attuned management practices for protecting ecologically sensitive areas.