Mangrove Conservation and Restoration
Primary Objectives and Outcomes:
The primary objective is to develop mangrove conservation and restoration projects in collaboration with local NGOs, government agencies and institutions, and communities. A secondary objective is to pursue the feasibility of a carbon-crediting program derived from those projects to help fund conservation and restoration efforts and provide financial incentives to local communities
PROJECT TITLE:
Mangrove Conservation and Restoration
PROJECT MANAGER:
Phil Howell
LOCATION:
The project primarily focuses on the Marismas Nacionales in the states of Sinaloa and Nayarit in Mexico. We have also been investigating other project areas along the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America.
START DATE / END DATE:
October 2014, ongoing
PROJECT PARTNERS:
Pronatura Noroeste, Environmental Resources Management, Global Mangrove Alliance, Mexican Alliance for Ecosystem Restoration (AMERE)
FUNDERS:
Environmental Resources Management
PROJECT STAGE:
Development
BIOME:
Coastal/Marine
Conserving and Restoring Mangrove Ecosystems on the Pacific Coast of Mexico and Central America
Introduction: Coastal mangrove forests are highly productive ecosystems that provide a myriad of critical ecosystem services, including important habitats for fish and other aquatic organisms and supporting a diverse assemblage of other plant and animal species, including reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. Mangroves are among the most carbon-rich forests in the world and substantially contribute to reducing atmospheric CO2 and slowing the rate of climate change. Many local communities also depend on mangrove systems for their livelihoods.
Background: The Marismas Nacionales (MN) is located on the Pacific coast of Mexico in Sinaloa south of Mazatlan and in Nayarit north of Puerto Vallarta. It is the largest single expanse of mangroves on the Pacific coast of Mexico and all of the Americas and accounts for 20% of the mangrove area in Mexico. Despite its ecological importance and designation as a RAMSAR site and UNESCO biosphere reserve, large tracts of the MN mangrove ecosystems have been eliminated or altered by development for agriculture, conversion to shrimp farms, dams and water diversion of freshwater tributaries, construction of a navigation channel, and deforestation for construction and firewood. Similar and additional development have degraded or eliminated mangrove systems in other areas.
Next Steps: Ecowb is working with our partners to identify specific project areas and improve mangrove conservation strategies and restoration methods.
Get Involved: For more information, contact Phil Howell, the project manager, phil.howell@ecowb.org. If you would like to be notified of future volunteer opportunities related to this project, please register as a volunteer on our website at https://www.ecowb.org/ecowb-volunteers.
To support the project with a financial contribution, please visit our donation page and select ““Marismas Nacionales Mangrove Restoration” from the drop-down menu. We appreciate your support.
