THE MANAGEMENT AND EXPLOITATION OF MANGROVES IN SONFONIA BAY CONAKRY-GUINEA

The mangrove area in Guinea decreased from 350,000 hectares in 1965 to 296,000 hectares in 2006. The average annual regression was 450 hectares, meaning that the regression rate was 4.2%. The primary uses of the mangrove zones in the Sonfonia region include logging, farming, salt farming, and smoking fish.The purpose of this study is to investigate the dynamics of mangrove exploitation and management at the Port of Sonfonia in order to introduce sustainable management practices for this ecosystem and suggest remedial actions.The subsequent approach was used: Frameworks and archives (CERESCOR, Communal Directorate of the Environment, Communal Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Ratoma) are consulted the study area is mapped cartographic data from 1994 to 2019 is analyzed and processed stakeholders (loggers, fish smokers, and salt farmers) are surveyed the reasons behind mangrove overexploitation are identified and corrective measures are suggested.The mapping that was done showed that the mangrove area has decreased. The area of Sonfonias mangroves decreased from 48.87 hectares in 1994 to 35.09 hectares in 2016 and 24.60 hectares in 2019. According to loggers surveyed, 10% only cut dry wood, 23.4% exercise selectivity, and 66.6% clear-cut. Each month, the port of Sonfonia unloads an average of 200 trunks of Avicenia and 30,400 trunks of Rhizophora trees, totaling 106.4 tons. Approximately 65% of smoking is done with rhizophora, and the cost of wood ranges from 15,000 to 45,000 fg per day and every smoker, for an amount of wood that ranges from 7 to 15 kg. The causes of mangrove wood overexploitation are primarily economic, accounting for 96%. Eight exclusive mangrove species are found in the Sonfonia area, includingAcrostichumaureum, Avicenia marina, Aviceniagerminans, Conocarpus erectus, Lagunculariaracemosa, Rhizophoraharrisonii, Rhizophoraracemosa, and Rhizophora mangle.