EVALUACIÓN DE LA SITUACIÓN SOCIOECONÓMICA DE LAS CONCESIONES DE MANGLAR DEL GOLFO DE GUAYAQUIL

Abstract

Mangroves are important ecologically and economically speaking. Nowadays, they are threatened by urban and industrial expansion and over-exploitation of resources. Because of those threats, the Environment Ministry has implemented legal agreements to ensure mangrove’s sustainable management. The agreements involve the native communities’ effort to conserve and use their resources sustainably. The mangrove concessions require constant and holistic evaluation. This research aims to evaluate the socio-economic situation of two concessions' beneficiaries (6 de Julio & Balao). The two concessions are located in the Gulf of Guayaquil – Ecuador. The evaluation was conducted through questionnaires, which were applied to the beneficiaries, in order to collect socio-economic information on the activities done in the mangrove. It has been possible to determine that the family income is heavily dependent of the activities in the mangrove and the most frequent activity is crab fishery. The landing prices and crab market price have a noticeable difference; and the number of beneficiaries has increased significantly. It has been identified that legal agreements for sustainable management have allowed the fisheries to organize and achieve self-sufficiency. Organization and self-sufficiency are part of the requirements to promote sustainable development.