Impact of Shrimp Farming on Mangrove Forest and Other Coastal Wetlands: The Case of Mexico

Abstract

This paper is the first attempt to document changes at a nationwide level based on our own and other authors findings obtained with remote sensing techniques, analyzing very high spatial resolution satellite imagery (Landsat, Spot, QickBird, GeoEye) and updating the existing information up to 2010. The main restriction imposed to these studies is the lack of reference data to validate the accuracy of the earlier dates’ estimates. Even so, the similitude among the results from independent analyses give confidence to the general trends followed by shrimp farm growth and its impact on mangrove forests in Mexico, making a comparison possible with analogous developments elsewhere.