AN INDEX FOR MANGROVE RESILIENCE IN BELIZE

Mangroves are vital to coastal ecosystems. They provide protection from storms, act as nurseries for thousands of vertebrates and invertebrates, and store vast amounts of carbon. Their existence is threatened, however, by sea-level rise, development, and other anthropogenic factors. Different indices have been created to assess the vulnerability of mangroves to anthropogenic change. Here we present an index specifically to understand the resilience of mangrove forests in Belize. By focusing on resilience, we aim to 1. identify factors that make mangrove ecosystems robust to climate change, 2. quantify and rank the role of these traits in specific forests in Belize, 3. use this information to maintain resilient mangrove forests, and cultivate resilience in vulnerable ecosystems.

Resilience indicators were compiled from the literature and based on experience working in mangrove conservation in Belize. After identifying factors contributing to mangrove resilience, we use survey data from the last decade to calculate resilience scores for sites around Turneffe Atoll, Belize. Sites were then ranked based on these scores. By assessing ecological indicators specifically in the context of climate resilience and in the social and economic context of Belize, we then provide recommendations for mangrove conservation in the region to cultivate and maintain mangrove ecosystem resilience.