STATUS OF MANGROVE FORESTS IN SINALOA, MEXICO · Although mangrove cover is found in 17 coastal...
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STATUS OF MANGROVE FORESTS IN SINALOA, MEXICO MANGROVE ECOSYSTEMS IN MEXICO The mangroves deliver important ecosystem services (e.g. habitat for diverse species, CO 2 sequestration, improvement of water quality, protection against coastal erosion and hurricanes), and currently these ecosystems are conservation targets. Regarding this, in Mexico mangrove monitoring program is carried out on a nationwide level, using geospatial techniques to assess extent and condition, every few years. Arturo Ruiz-Luna ([email protected] ) and César Alejandro Berlanga-Robles [email protected] Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Mazatlán Sábalo-Cerritos s/n. 82100. Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México MANGROVES OF SINALOA In northwest Mexico, around 25% of the total mangrove cover is distributed, with Sinaloa state with the largest extent , around 815 km 2 according to CONABIO (2017), although our estimations for the period 1973 – 2000, output a cover extent around 700 km 2 . The mangroves are distributed around the numerous coastal lagoons in the state, along a coastline of about 650 km. To assess mangrove extent and forest structure, medium to high resolution satellite imagery analysis and field surveys have been used since the last quarter of the 20 th century, evaluating trends of change. At the present time, Mexico’s mangrove coverage is around 7500 km 2 , positioning the country among the top ten in mangrove extent. Although mangrove cover is found in 17 coastal states, most of the coverage is in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea, with the highest and densest forests to the south of the country. In addition, despite that Sinaloa is leading shrimp aquaculture in Mexico, with the largest shrimp ponds area (600 km 2 ), only slight perturbations in mangrove cover and condition have been detected after more than 40 years, representing less than 2.5% of the total state mangrove extent Avicennia germinans is still the dominant species followed by Rhizophora mangle, although Laguncularia racemosa was the best represented species in the central zone. Sinaloa mangroves extent (km 2 ) 1985 2005 2010 2015 Mangrove extent 821.7 791.1 772.6 815.6 Perturbed mangrove 7.6 9.5 22.6 18.5 Mangrove under protection in Federal areas 77.2 78.2 77.4 91.2 Mangrove under protection in State areas 0.0 3.6 3.5 4.1 Mangrove in Ramsar sites 0.0 286.5 530.0 590.4 Total mangrove protected area 77.2 268.1 599.1 602.7 Source: Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad. Manglares de México. 2015 Conclusions. Some disagreement exists between official figures from the CONABIO and other mangrove assessments, including ours for periods previous to the beginning of the CONABIO monitoring program. However, we agree that Sinaloa’s mangroves are not heavily perturbed, but to reduce discrepancies, we strongly recommend intra-annual evaluations, besides inter-annual, using standardized methods to reduce variations attributed to seasonal changes and uncertainty in the assessments. SPOT imagery colection for Mexican mangroves monitoring. The Mexican Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiveristy (CONABIO), has completed three national inventories using this information for 2005, 2010 and 2015. Mangrove distribution in Mexico (2015)
Transcript of STATUS OF MANGROVE FORESTS IN SINALOA, MEXICO · Although mangrove cover is found in 17 coastal...
STATUS OF MANGROVE FORESTS IN SINALOA, MEXICO
MANGROVE ECOSYSTEMS IN MEXICO
The mangroves deliver important ecosystem services (e.g. habitat fordiverse species, CO2 sequestration, improvement of water quality,protection against coastal erosion and hurricanes), and currentlythese ecosystems are conservation targets. Regarding this, in Mexicomangrove monitoring program is carried out on a nationwide level,using geospatial techniques to assess extent and condition, every fewyears.
Arturo Ruiz-Luna ([email protected]) and César Alejandro Berlanga-Robles [email protected] de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Mazatlán
Sábalo-Cerritos s/n. 82100. Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México
MANGROVES OF SINALOA
In northwest Mexico, around 25% of the total mangrove cover isdistributed, with Sinaloa state with the largest extent , around 815km2 according to CONABIO (2017), although our estimations for theperiod 1973 – 2000, output a cover extent around 700 km2. Themangroves are distributed around the numerous coastal lagoons inthe state, along a coastline of about 650 km.
To assess mangrove extent and forest structure, medium to highresolution satellite imagery analysis and field surveys have been usedsince the last quarter of the 20th century, evaluating trends of change.
At the present time, Mexico’s mangrove coverage is around 7500km2, positioning the country among the top ten in mangrove extent.Although mangrove cover is found in 17 coastal states, most of thecoverage is in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea, with thehighest and densest forests to the south of the country.
In addition, despite that Sinaloa is leading shrimp aquaculture inMexico, with the largest shrimp ponds area (600 km2), only slightperturbations in mangrove cover and condition have beendetected after more than 40 years, representing less than 2.5% ofthe total state mangrove extent Avicennia germinans is still thedominant species followed by Rhizophora mangle, althoughLaguncularia racemosa was the best represented species in thecentral zone.
Sinaloa mangroves extent (km2)
1985 2005 2010 2015Mangrove extent 821.7 791.1 772.6 815.6
Perturbed mangrove 7.6 9.5 22.6 18.5
Mangrove under
protection in Federal areas 77.2 78.2 77.4 91.2
Mangrove under
protection in State areas 0.0 3.6 3.5 4.1
Mangrove in Ramsar sites 0.0 286.5 530.0 590.4
Total mangrove protected
area 77.2 268.1 599.1 602.7Source: Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad. Manglares de
México. 2015
Conclusions. Some disagreement exists between official figures from the CONABIO and other mangrove assessments, including ours for periods previous tothe beginning of the CONABIO monitoring program. However, we agree that Sinaloa’s mangroves are not heavily perturbed, but to reduce discrepancies, westrongly recommend intra-annual evaluations, besides inter-annual, using standardized methods to reduce variations attributed to seasonal changes anduncertainty in the assessments.
SPOT imagery colection for Mexicanmangroves monitoring. The MexicanCommission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiveristy (CONABIO), has completedthree national inventories using thisinformation for 2005, 2010 and 2015.
Mangrove distribution in Mexico (2015)
