Local Use of Mangroves on the Coast of Southeastern México

Carlos Alberto Martínez-Márquez, Ángel Sol Sánchez (), Juan Manuel Zaldívar Cruz, Saúl Sánchez Soto, Nydia Del Rivero Bautista and Mario Manuel Aliphat Fernández
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Carlos Alberto Martínez-Márquez: Program in Agricultural Aciences in the Tropics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Postgraduate College, Km 3.5. Cárdenas-Huimaguillo Highway. H. Cárdenas, Cardenas 86500, Tabasco, Mexico
Ángel Sol Sánchez: Natural Resources Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Postgraduate College, Km 3.5. Cárdenas-Humaguillo Highway. H. Cárdenas, Cardenas 86500, Tabasco, Mexico
Juan Manuel Zaldívar Cruz: Natural Resources Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Postgraduate College, Km 3.5. Cárdenas-Humaguillo Highway. H. Cárdenas, Cardenas 86500, Tabasco, Mexico
Saúl Sánchez Soto: Natural Resources Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Postgraduate College, Km 3.5. Cárdenas-Humaguillo Highway. H. Cárdenas, Cardenas 86500, Tabasco, Mexico
Nydia Del Rivero Bautista: Natural Resources Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Postgraduate College, Km 3.5. Cárdenas-Humaguillo Highway. H. Cárdenas, Cardenas 86500, Tabasco, Mexico
Mario Manuel Aliphat Fernández: Rural Devepment Department, Faculty of Rural Development Strategies, Postgraduate College, Boulevard Forjadores de Puebla, Num 205. Santiago Momoxpan, Mpio San Pedro Cholula 72760, Puebla, Mexico

Resources, 2024, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: 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, Avicennia germinans , Laguncularia racemosa , and Rhizophora mangle , 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.

Keywords: mangroves; wetland; traditional knowledge; sustainable use; management; conservation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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