Gulf of Fonseca mangroves

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The Gulf of Fonseca mangroves are located at the intersection of Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador on the Pacific coast. These mangroves constitute an important wildlife refuge for waterfowl in the area. Common plant species include Rizophora mangle, R. racemosa, Avicenia bicolor, A. germinans, and Laguanaria racemosa. The conservation status of the mangroves is endangered and the threats are high due to timber extraction and commercial exploitation of mollusks and crustaceans. There is some fragmentation in the ecoregion; 20% of the original habitat has been lost.

  • Scientific Code
    (NT1412)
  • Ecoregion Category
    Neotropical
  • Size
    600 square miles
  • Status
    Critical/Endangered
  • Habitats

Description


Location and General Description

Biodiversity Features

Current Status

Types and Severity of Threats

Justification of Ecoregion Delineation
Classification and linework for all mangrove ecoregions in Latin America and the Caribbean follow the results of a mangrove ecoregion workshop (1994) and subsequent report (Olson et al. 1996).

References
Ecoregional Workshop: A Conservation Assessment of Mangrove Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean. 1994. Washington D.C., World Wildlife Fund.

Olson, D.M., E. Dinerstein, G. Cintrón, and P. Iolster. 1996. A conservation assessment of mangrove ecosystems of Latin America and the Caribbean. Final report for The Ford Foundation. World Wildlife Fund, Washington, D.C.

Prepared by: Sylvia Tognetti, Christine Burdette, and Claudia Locklin
Reviewed by: Not yet reviewed