Land use conflicts

Urban expansion vs. mangrove conservation in the Portoveijo River estuary, Ecuador

Abstract

Mangrove ecosystems are considered vulnerable environments with a high risk of disappearing due to anthropogenic activities. Currently, territories prioritize economic development over the conservation of environmental resources, which paradoxically sustain their economy and, therefore, their own existence. This is the case of the Mangrove Community Reserve of the Portoviejo River Estuary, an ecosystem that has been affected since 1950 by the expansion of urban boundaries, intensive agricultural practices, and, most notably, aquaculture activities, which have deforested approximately 86% of the original mangrove cover. Consequently, the purpose of this research was to understand how urban expansion, driven by the population growth of the communities within the estuary’s biocorridor and their associated economic activities, has generated significant land-use conflicts that hinder conservation efforts for the remaining mangroves in the community reserve. Three methodological phases were applied: (a) characterization of the study area, (b) evaluation of human interactions and environmental pressure, and (c) identification of key patterns driving land-use changes. It was concluded that the urban footprint has increased by 146% since 2006, the population is growing around the mangrove reserve, and their socio-productive activities have fragmented the ecosystem and transformed the natural landscape. It is estimated that 407.55 hectares of mangrove forest have disappeared over the past seven decades due to indiscriminate logging for the construction of shrimp farms and agricultural plots, causing significant environmental alterations in the reserve.