Mangrove Infrastructure for the Economic Development of Local Communities in Naranjal-Ecuador

Mangrove ecosystems are of significant environmental and economic importance. Large populations worldwide depend on mangroves for their resources and food supply. Following mangrove data of 1997, Ecuador had an area of 2,469 km² of mangroves. This area has suffered some reductions due to farming, industrial activities, and urbanization in recent years. At the same time, local communities depend on the collection and commercialization of mangrove products as their primary income source. Infrastructure projected in mangrove areas needs a remarkable treatment with a holistic approach to consider technological, social, environmental, and economic aspects. The project will focus on the community 6 de Julio of the zone of Naranjal-Ecuador. One of the primary income sources of this community is the collection and commercialization of the mangrove crab, which is collected at the nearby mangrove areas authorized by the Ministry of Environment, for which the community needs to abide by the regulations and closure periods to guarantee the sustainability of the activity. The primary research’s objective is to study the best infrastructure options to help with the crab collection activity. So, it is safer and cleaner and aims to diversify activities such as touristic or educational that can become an alternative income source during the closure periods and reduce the dependence on the crab collection.