Biophysical and anthropic factors of the Mandinga River basin and its influence on the destruction of the mangrove ecosystem of Barra Salada, Sonsonate, El Salvador

Abstract

The Mangrove of Barra Salada with an area of 454 hectares, is located in the department of Sonsonate, in western El Salvador; It is considered an ecosystem of environmental and socioeconomic importance due to its productivity and the environmental goods and services generated. However, it is being degraded by anthropic factors that alter the physicochemical conditions of the estuarine system. Barra Salada is part of the Mandinga basin (86.51 km²), being drained by the Mandinga and Pululuya rivers, crossing the municipalities of San Julián, Cuisnahuat and Sonsonate. The population density is 173 inhabitants / km², 92% of the area of the basin is used for agricultural production; The Water Quality Index (ICA) indicates that the waters (rivers Mandinga and Pululuya) drained in the mangrove have regular quality to poor (58.43 to 16.20). The clogging of the mouth allows the salt concentration to increase (30-33 ‰) in estuary waters during the dry season; On the contrary, in winter the salinity decreases significantly (0.15-0.45 ‰). The usurpation of mangroves to establish housing (13.1 hectares) or agricultural growth (22.01 hectares) are factors that affect the deterioration of mangroves. Generation of monospecific forests of A. germinans, responds to variations in salinity in the water; these, also found poorly developed and deteriorated, presenting a Holdrige complexity index (ICH) of 0.094. Finally, the salty forest has been reduced in area from 1954 to 2018 by 33.21%, that is, 620.41 hectares. to 414.4 hectares