Mangrove infrastructure for the economic development of local communities in Naranjal - Ecuador

Abstract

Mangrove ecosystems are of significant environmental and economic importance.Large populations worldwide depend on mangroves for their resources and food sup-ply. Following mangrove data of 1997, Ecuador had an area of 2,469 km2 of mangroves.This area has suffered some reductions due to farming, industrial activities, and urba-nization in recent years. At the same time, local communities depend on the collectionand commercialization of mangrove products as their primary income source. Infra-structure projected in mangrove areas needs a remarkable treatment with a holisticapproach to consider technological, social, environmental, and economic aspects. Theproject will focus on the community 6 de Julio of the zone of Naranjal-Ecuador. One ofthe primary income sources of this community is the collection and commercializationof the mangrove crab, which is collected at the nearby mangrove areas authorized bythe Ministry of Environment, for which the community needs to abide by the regula-tions and closure periods to guarantee the sustainability of the activity. The primaryresearch’s objective is to study the best infrastructure options to help with the crabcollection activity. So, it is safer and cleaner and aims to diversify activities such as tou-ristic or educational that can become an alternative income source during the closureperiods and reduce the dependence on the crab collection