Analysis of forest structure and standing biomass are established methods used to evaluate the maturity of a forest ecosystem. This research aimed at evaluating the structural dimensions and biomass of the mangrove forest around the Kakum estuary of Ghana. A 1 hectare area was sampled. Data was collected with a 10 m2 quadrat at five random sampling points along five transects laid perpendicular to the shoreline. The results showed that R. mangle is the principal species with Importance Value (IV) of 126.53 and Height (H) and Basal Area (BA) of 5.19±2.72 m and 8.55±6.86 cm2 respectively, then A. germinans (IV of 103.02; H of 3.05±1.05 m and BA of 7.90±7.41 cm2). L. racemosa had the least structural parameters (IV of 70.45; H of 2.42±0.99 m and BA of 5.36±4.65 cm2). R. mangle had the highest standing biomass, followed by A. germinans and L. racemosa amounting to 134.08 t/ha, 35.02 t/ha and 22.08 t/ha respectively. The most significant conclusion from this study is that even though R. mangle was found to be the principal species and significantly larger in terms of mean height, basal area and standing biomass, they are of generally low structural development, as applied to the other species as well. We strongly suggest that because these mangroves are being threatened by human development, efforts that allow for maximum structural development of the mangroves must be seriously pursued if the ecosystem is expected to continue to provide an increasingly sustainable source of the required ecological goods and functional services.
