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Natallia Leuchanka Environmental Science: Ecosystems; International Affairs

The Loss of Ecosystem Services on the Yucatán Peninsula in the 21 st Century Case study: mangrove loss in Mexico (MX) & Belize (BZ). Natallia Leuchanka Environmental Science: Ecosystems; International Affairs College of Life Sciences and Agriculture University of New Hampshire (UNH)

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Natallia Leuchanka Environmental Science: Ecosystems; International Affairs

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  1. The Loss of Ecosystem Services on the Yucatán Peninsula in the 21st CenturyCase study: mangrove loss in Mexico (MX) & Belize (BZ) Natallia Leuchanka Environmental Science: Ecosystems; International Affairs College of Life Sciences and Agriculture University of New Hampshire (UNH) Adviser: Dr. Chris Reardon

  2. Akumal, Mexico (MX) Sarteneja, Belize (BZ)

  3. Ecosystem Services: benefits people obtain from ecosystems (regulation of floods & droughts, food production, etc.) • Ecosystem:a dynamic complex of plant, animal, and microorganism communities and the nonliving environment interacting as a functional unit

  4. What are Mangroves? • Halophytic trees & shrubs • Between 25ºN – 25ºS (pantropical) • Adapted to extremely high stresses • Modified morphoplogy and anatomy • THREATS: Development & tourism

  5. 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!

  6. If mangrove wetlands provide services for the livelihoods of millions, then why are they continuously being degraded ?

  7. Where are we today? 1984 2009 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.

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. International organizations (IOs) & Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) • Community-based management • NGOs: • Wildtracks (Belize) – Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) • Centro EcológicoAkumal (Mexico) – research, monitoring, tourist awareness • IOs: UNESCO, FAO, WHO

  11. 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

  12. “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

  13. Research visits to Belize and Mexico were funded by theHAMEL CENTER FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Funding student explorations worldwide Hood House 209, 603.862.4323 www.unh.edu/undergrad-research

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