The Amansuri wetland is a community protected area that was created through a collaborative partnership between the Ghana Wildlife Society and the chiefs and people of the Western Nzema Traditional Area. The wetland is on the western coastline of Ghana, in the Western Region of Ghana. The area is about 360km west of the capital, Accra, with the closest large urban center being Half-Assini, 35km to the west. The former name of the area in the colonial era was Apolonia, and there are still vestiges of the past, notably the Apolonia fort in Beyin village. The Amansuri catchment area lies within the Wet Evergreen forest zone of Ghana, a forest type restricted to the highest rainfall zones. The Amansuri wetland, which has an area of more than 100 km², is a relatively pristine complex consisting of a freshwater lagoon, forests, grasslands and rivers, and it has the most extensive remaining stand of intact swamp forest in Ghana. It is the only known peat swamp forest in Ghana and nationally, the best example of freshwater swamp forest characterized by black humic waters. More than 70% of the site is covered by swamp forest, which makes accessibility in many parts very difficult, a factor which has resulted in significant remnants of unspoilt areas. Faunistic inventories have identified 27 species of mammals, including black-and-white colobus, mona and spot-nosed monkeys, forest squirrel and red riverhog, 26 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the slender-snouted crocodile Crocodylus cataphractus and the dwarf crocodile Osteolamus tetraspis, green mamba and black forest cobra, and 26 species of fish. Furthermore, the area has a relatively rich indigenous avifauna and also hosts various migrant species; according to the intentories, a total of 105 bird species have been recorded, 65 of which are of global and national conservation interest. Due to its ornithological importance, the area hasbeen classified as an Important Bird Area , and it also meets the criteria of the Ramsar Convention as Wetland of International Importance. However, its official designation as Ramsar site is still pending. Another characteristic of the site which further enhances its importance in terms of biodiversity is that the coastal areas constitute nesting sites for various marine turtle species, such as the rare leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea, Green turtle Chelonia mydas, and Olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea. In terms of flora, 33% of the 237 plant species identified are endemic to the wetland.