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 163.33 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.