Proposal for the rehabilitation of the mangrove forest of Caimanera Bay

Abstract

The study was conducted in a mangrove forest belonging to the Caimanera Forestry Base Business Unit (Unidad Empresarial de Base Silvícola Caimanera) with the objective of assessing ecological vulnerability. Twenty-one units of 100 m2 were established, with systematic sampling in plots aligned perpendicular to the coast. The number of species and individuals per species and per stratum was determined. The horizontal and vertical structure was characterized, using the Ecological Importance Value Index and the Simpson index. The results showed that the analysis of floristic diversity facilitated the assessment of forest structure and composition. The use of indicators was feasible for assessing ecological vulnerability in species and their structure. The forest was characterized by a single stratum (lower), with low ecological vulnerability. The least vulnerable species were Avicenia germinans L. and Laguncularia racemosa L.; and the most vulnerable was Rizophora mangle L.