Abstract
AbstractThe role of mangroves as pivotal providers of ecosystem services has been widely acknowledged. In Latin America, mangroves play an important role in traditional coastal livelihoods, but the growing economy of these nations demands the expansion of land for development, putting pressure in ecosystems such as mangroves. Here we examine the impact of land use activities on mangroves in the Gulf of Montijo, a RAMSAR site located in the Pacific coast of Panamá. Spatial information of land use was analysed, ground-truthed and classified into agriculture, aquaculture and coastal development, and subsequently ranked according to estimated level of impact on mangroves based on 27 interviews with local informants. We developed a spatially-referenced cumulative impact model of human activities on mangroves. Results showed that despite the protection status of the Gulf of Montijo, its mangrove forests are affected by localised human activities, dominated by agriculture. Given the importance of fishing for local livelihoods, evaluating the effects of agriculture, rice in particular, on mangroves and their associated fauna will be essential for the sustainable management of this RAMSAR site.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Reference42 articles.
1. Fish Assemblages in the Degraded Mangrove Ecosystems of the Coastal Zone, Benin, West Africa: Implications for Ecosystem Restoration and Resources Conservation
2. Fish and wildlife resources in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil and potential disturbances from the release of environmental contaminants;Environ Toxicol Chem,1997
3. ANAM (2004) Programa de Acción Nacional de Lucha contra la Desertificación y Sequía en Panamá. Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente, Panamá, Panamá. https://knowledge.unccd.int/sites/default/files/naps/panama-spa2004.pdf
4. Anam, ARAP (2013) Manglares de Panamá: importancia, mejores prácticas y regulaciones vigentes. Editora Novo Art, S.A., Panamá
5. Bach O (2007) Decimotercero informe estado de la nación en desarrollo humano sostenible: Agricultura e implicaciones ambientales con énfasis en algunas cuencas hidrográficas principales. Estado de la Nación en Desarrollo Humano Sostenible, San José, Costa Rica. p.22
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献