Local Use of Mangroves on the Coast of Southeastern México

Mangroves are essential for the well-being of the inhabitants of coastal areas, who have extensive knowledge about the use and exploitation of this resource. However, this knowledge is decreasing, which could trigger negative repercussions for this ecosystem. Ethnobiological investigations make it p...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Carlos Alberto Martínez-Márquez, Ángel Sol Sánchez, Juan Manuel Zaldívar Cruz, Saúl Sánchez Soto, Nydia Del Rivero Bautista, Mario Manuel Aliphat Fernández
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Resources
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/13/11/154
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850266759052918784
author Carlos Alberto Martínez-Márquez
Ángel Sol Sánchez
Juan Manuel Zaldívar Cruz
Saúl Sánchez Soto
Nydia Del Rivero Bautista
Mario Manuel Aliphat Fernández
author_facet Carlos Alberto Martínez-Márquez
Ángel Sol Sánchez
Juan Manuel Zaldívar Cruz
Saúl Sánchez Soto
Nydia Del Rivero Bautista
Mario Manuel Aliphat Fernández
author_sort Carlos Alberto Martínez-Márquez
collection DOAJ
description Mangroves are essential for the well-being of the inhabitants of coastal areas, who have extensive knowledge about the use and exploitation of this resource. However, this knowledge is decreasing, which could trigger negative repercussions for this ecosystem. Ethnobiological investigations make it possible to gather information on the use, management, and exploitation of this resource. Hence, this paper presents a study that is framed around the coastal area of the state of Tabasco, in southeast México, and consists of 74 semi-structured interviews that were carried out, while the local relevance of each mangrove species was evaluated using ethnobiological indices. Three species of mangrove were identified, <i>Avicennia germinans</i>, <i>Laguncularia racemosa</i>, and <i>Rhizophora mangle</i>, and the latter species had the highest Use-Value (UV) Index value of 6.08. A total of 27 forms of forestry use were found, 11 for non-timber use and 16 for timber use. Firewood stood out as the main use with 12.6%, while the use of needles to make cloth and crafts represented the lowest percentage with 0.3%. The uses given by the coastal population to the mangroves and their respective species were influenced by immediate needs and specific characteristics of each species. To ensure the sustainability of mangroves, it is essential to design environmental strategies that integrate local ethnobiological knowledge and promote the active participation of direct users of this ecosystem. These strategies should be incorporated into public conservation policies, recognizing the cultural and economic value that mangroves hold for local communities. By implementing these actions, the relationship between communities and their environment will be strengthened, laying the groundwork for further exploration of coastal ethnobiology.
format Article
id doaj-art-38218347219e4a5fbc0afbd792de2fdc
institution OA Journals
issn 2079-9276
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Resources
spelling doaj-art-38218347219e4a5fbc0afbd792de2fdc2025-08-20T01:54:04ZengMDPI AGResources2079-92762024-10-01131115410.3390/resources13110154Local Use of Mangroves on the Coast of Southeastern MéxicoCarlos Alberto Martínez-Márquez0Ángel Sol Sánchez1Juan Manuel Zaldívar Cruz2Saúl Sánchez Soto3Nydia Del Rivero Bautista4Mario Manuel Aliphat Fernández5Program in Agricultural Aciences in the Tropics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Postgraduate College, Km 3.5. Cárdenas-Huimaguillo Highway. H. Cárdenas, Cardenas 86500, Tabasco, MexicoNatural Resources Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Postgraduate College, Km 3.5. Cárdenas-Humaguillo Highway. H. Cárdenas, Cardenas 86500, Tabasco, MexicoNatural Resources Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Postgraduate College, Km 3.5. Cárdenas-Humaguillo Highway. H. Cárdenas, Cardenas 86500, Tabasco, MexicoNatural Resources Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Postgraduate College, Km 3.5. Cárdenas-Humaguillo Highway. H. Cárdenas, Cardenas 86500, Tabasco, MexicoNatural Resources Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Postgraduate College, Km 3.5. Cárdenas-Humaguillo Highway. H. Cárdenas, Cardenas 86500, Tabasco, MexicoRural Devepment Department, Faculty of Rural Development Strategies, Postgraduate College, Boulevard Forjadores de Puebla, Num 205. Santiago Momoxpan, Mpio San Pedro Cholula 72760, Puebla, MexicoMangroves are essential for the well-being of the inhabitants of coastal areas, who have extensive knowledge about the use and exploitation of this resource. However, this knowledge is decreasing, which could trigger negative repercussions for this ecosystem. Ethnobiological investigations make it possible to gather information on the use, management, and exploitation of this resource. Hence, this paper presents a study that is framed around the coastal area of the state of Tabasco, in southeast México, and consists of 74 semi-structured interviews that were carried out, while the local relevance of each mangrove species was evaluated using ethnobiological indices. Three species of mangrove were identified, <i>Avicennia germinans</i>, <i>Laguncularia racemosa</i>, and <i>Rhizophora mangle</i>, and the latter species had the highest Use-Value (UV) Index value of 6.08. A total of 27 forms of forestry use were found, 11 for non-timber use and 16 for timber use. Firewood stood out as the main use with 12.6%, while the use of needles to make cloth and crafts represented the lowest percentage with 0.3%. The uses given by the coastal population to the mangroves and their respective species were influenced by immediate needs and specific characteristics of each species. To ensure the sustainability of mangroves, it is essential to design environmental strategies that integrate local ethnobiological knowledge and promote the active participation of direct users of this ecosystem. These strategies should be incorporated into public conservation policies, recognizing the cultural and economic value that mangroves hold for local communities. By implementing these actions, the relationship between communities and their environment will be strengthened, laying the groundwork for further exploration of coastal ethnobiology.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/13/11/154mangroveswetlandtraditional knowledgesustainable usemanagementconservation
spellingShingle Carlos Alberto Martínez-Márquez
Ángel Sol Sánchez
Juan Manuel Zaldívar Cruz
Saúl Sánchez Soto
Nydia Del Rivero Bautista
Mario Manuel Aliphat Fernández
Local Use of Mangroves on the Coast of Southeastern México
Resources
mangroves
wetland
traditional knowledge
sustainable use
management
conservation
title Local Use of Mangroves on the Coast of Southeastern México
title_full Local Use of Mangroves on the Coast of Southeastern México
title_fullStr Local Use of Mangroves on the Coast of Southeastern México
title_full_unstemmed Local Use of Mangroves on the Coast of Southeastern México
title_short Local Use of Mangroves on the Coast of Southeastern México
title_sort local use of mangroves on the coast of southeastern mexico
topic mangroves
wetland
traditional knowledge
sustainable use
management
conservation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/13/11/154
work_keys_str_mv AT carlosalbertomartinezmarquez localuseofmangrovesonthecoastofsoutheasternmexico
AT angelsolsanchez localuseofmangrovesonthecoastofsoutheasternmexico
AT juanmanuelzaldivarcruz localuseofmangrovesonthecoastofsoutheasternmexico
AT saulsanchezsoto localuseofmangrovesonthecoastofsoutheasternmexico
AT nydiadelriverobautista localuseofmangrovesonthecoastofsoutheasternmexico
AT mariomanuelaliphatfernandez localuseofmangrovesonthecoastofsoutheasternmexico