Mangrove Area Trends in Mexico Due to Anthropogenic Activities: A Synthesis of Five Decades (1970–2020)

This paper presents a meta-analysis of mangrove area in Mexico, using linear mixed models to assess trends from 1970 to 2020. The objective is to highlight the changes in the extent of these vital ecosystems over the past five decades. The analysis reveals a concerning decline of approximately 163.3...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Pablo Antúnez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Coasts
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-964X/4/4/38
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850049787682881536
author Pablo Antúnez
author_facet Pablo Antúnez
author_sort Pablo Antúnez
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents a meta-analysis of mangrove area in Mexico, using linear mixed models to assess trends from 1970 to 2020. The objective is to highlight the changes in the extent of these vital ecosystems over the past five decades. The analysis reveals a concerning decline of approximately 163.33 hectares per year from 1970 to 2005. Although a rebound was observed starting in 2016—likely due to effective conservation efforts—these ecosystems continue to decline overall. The states that have shown a consistent decline in mangrove area include Campeche, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Colima, and Jalisco. Threats to mangroves vary significantly by region. In the North Pacific, the expansion of aquaculture farms has contributed to over 60% of mangrove loss. In contrast, the Yucatán Peninsula faces challenges from urban development, oil exploitation, and road expansion. Additionally, tourism activities have severely impacted the states of Colima, Jalisco, Guerrero, and Quintana Roo. In the Gulf of Mexico, the primary threats include aquaculture, transportation routes, and hydraulic infrastructure. Based on these findings, seven action strategies for the ecological restoration of mangroves are proposed. These strategies, drawn from successful case studies and existing literature, include: comprehensive restoration initiatives, expansion of research and data sources, updates to current regulations, regulation of anthropogenic activities, inter-institutional coordination, education and awareness-raising efforts, and continuous monitoring and evaluation.
format Article
id doaj-art-de7c0b0c0a2243bb825b77dc3e09270e
institution DOAJ
issn 2673-964X
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Coasts
spelling doaj-art-de7c0b0c0a2243bb825b77dc3e09270e2025-08-20T02:53:38ZengMDPI AGCoasts2673-964X2024-11-014472673910.3390/coasts4040038Mangrove Area Trends in Mexico Due to Anthropogenic Activities: A Synthesis of Five Decades (1970–2020)Pablo Antúnez0División de Estudios de Postgrado-Instituto de Estudios Ambientales, Universidad de la Sierra Juárez, Avenida Universidad S/N, Oaxaca 68725, Oaxaca, MexicoThis paper presents a meta-analysis of mangrove area in Mexico, using linear mixed models to assess trends from 1970 to 2020. The objective is to highlight the changes in the extent of these vital ecosystems over the past five decades. The analysis reveals a concerning decline of approximately 163.33 hectares per year from 1970 to 2005. Although a rebound was observed starting in 2016—likely due to effective conservation efforts—these ecosystems continue to decline overall. The states that have shown a consistent decline in mangrove area include Campeche, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Colima, and Jalisco. Threats to mangroves vary significantly by region. In the North Pacific, the expansion of aquaculture farms has contributed to over 60% of mangrove loss. In contrast, the Yucatán Peninsula faces challenges from urban development, oil exploitation, and road expansion. Additionally, tourism activities have severely impacted the states of Colima, Jalisco, Guerrero, and Quintana Roo. In the Gulf of Mexico, the primary threats include aquaculture, transportation routes, and hydraulic infrastructure. Based on these findings, seven action strategies for the ecological restoration of mangroves are proposed. These strategies, drawn from successful case studies and existing literature, include: comprehensive restoration initiatives, expansion of research and data sources, updates to current regulations, regulation of anthropogenic activities, inter-institutional coordination, education and awareness-raising efforts, and continuous monitoring and evaluation.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-964X/4/4/38consequences of anthropogenic activitiesland use changelong-term trends in coastal ecosystemsmangrove conservation in Latin America
spellingShingle Pablo Antúnez
Mangrove Area Trends in Mexico Due to Anthropogenic Activities: A Synthesis of Five Decades (1970–2020)
Coasts
consequences of anthropogenic activities
land use change
long-term trends in coastal ecosystems
mangrove conservation in Latin America
title Mangrove Area Trends in Mexico Due to Anthropogenic Activities: A Synthesis of Five Decades (1970–2020)
title_full Mangrove Area Trends in Mexico Due to Anthropogenic Activities: A Synthesis of Five Decades (1970–2020)
title_fullStr Mangrove Area Trends in Mexico Due to Anthropogenic Activities: A Synthesis of Five Decades (1970–2020)
title_full_unstemmed Mangrove Area Trends in Mexico Due to Anthropogenic Activities: A Synthesis of Five Decades (1970–2020)
title_short Mangrove Area Trends in Mexico Due to Anthropogenic Activities: A Synthesis of Five Decades (1970–2020)
title_sort mangrove area trends in mexico due to anthropogenic activities a synthesis of five decades 1970 2020
topic consequences of anthropogenic activities
land use change
long-term trends in coastal ecosystems
mangrove conservation in Latin America
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-964X/4/4/38
work_keys_str_mv AT pabloantunez mangroveareatrendsinmexicoduetoanthropogenicactivitiesasynthesisoffivedecades19702020