The Loss of Ecosystem Services on the Yucatán Peninsula in the 21st Century

Case study: mangrove loss in Mexico (MX) & Belize (BZ)

Natallia LeuchankaEnvironmental Science: Ecosystems; International Affairs

College of Life Sciences and AgricultureUniversity of New Hampshire (UNH)

Adviser: Dr. Chris Reardon

Akumal, Mexico (MX)

Sarteneja, Belize (BZ)

• Ecosystem: a dynamic complex of plant, animal, and microorganism communities and the nonliving environment interacting as a functional unit

• Ecosystem Services: benefits people obtain from ecosystems (regulation of floods & droughts, food production, etc.)

What are Mangroves?• Halophytic trees & shrubs• Between 25ºN – 25ºS

(pantropical)• Adapted to extremely high

stresses• Modified morphoplogy

and anatomy• THREATS: Development &

tourism

WHY MANGROVES ?

• Species habitat & biodiversity

• Shoreline protection• Water filtration• Soil & sediment

stabilization• Local fisheries• Coral reef protection

• Most of world’s population lives along the coast – resources!

If mangrove wetlands provide services for

the livelihoods of millions, then why are

they continuously being degraded ?

Where are we today?

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. Comparison of two Landsat 5 Images from 1984 and 2009 showing the rapid pace of development in Playa del Carmen, the main tourist hub for the area.

1984 2009

Current State and Trends

• Global trend: over 50% of mangroves lost due to anthropogenic causes over the last 20 years.

• Remote sensing shows 3.3% mangrove decline in Belize since original cover (CATHALAC, 2010)

• Monitoring with Wildtracks (Belize) & field measurements in Mexico showed inconsistencies in mangrove map/data

• Current status in Mexico & Belize: unknown

International Environmental Policy in the 20th Century

• 1972 Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm

• 1992 Conference on Environment and Development (also known as the Earth Summit) in Río de Janeiro

• Sustainable development: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” – Our Common Future; 1987 Brundtland Commission

• Gap between North (developed ) & South (developing)• Need more integrated policies among the states

International organizations (IOs) & Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

• Community-based management• NGOs:

1. Wildtracks (Belize) – Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs)

2. Centro Ecológico Akumal (Mexico) – research, monitoring, tourist awareness

• IOs: UNESCO, FAO, WHO

Conclusions & Recommendations

• International actors shape state governments through agreements lead by international organizations; the lack of compliance & active international organizations results in ecosystem services.

• Domestic capacity building (technological & financial)• Treaties with small number of actors• Wetland mitigation & restoration• Monitoring (criteria)• Reporting (criteria)• Remote Sensing & GIS (models)• Education

“It has been said that for the first time in evolutionary human history human beings have

achieved a greater measure of influence over the future of their planet than evolution itself” - Vig

& Kraft, 1997

Research visits to Belize and Mexico were funded by the

HAMEL CENTER FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Funding student explorations worldwideHood House 209, 603.862.4323

www.unh.edu/undergrad-research