Assessment of plant biodiversity in Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary in Ghana

Abstract

A study was conducted in the Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary in Ghana in order to assess the plant biodiversity found in the sanctuary. The study was conducted over a period of three years (2000-2003) through botanical inventories and using sample plots. A total number of 227 species of plants belonging to 72 families were identified and three vegetations types: Riverine forest, Floodplain and Upland flora were found in the sanctuary. Many of the species of plants were Mesophanerophytes and Thereophytes whereas a paucity of the species was Heleophytes, Hydrophytes, Hemicryptophytes and Chamaephytes. The results of the study are discussed and recommendations made for further research to support the conservation and sustainable use of plants in the sanctuary.