Sedimentation caused by overgrazing in higher lands is an issue, as are human activities such as port and highway construction, urbanization, waste disposal and so on.

The mangroves are found along the coast of Ecuador and cover an area of 400 square miles (1,000 km2).

The Cojimíes sub-region in Esmeraldas Province lies between the Muisne River to the north and the town of Pedernales to the south.

The mangroves also host red algae and epiphytes such as Orchidaceaes, Bromeliaceae, Cactus and mosses.

The mangrove detritus is converted to protein by microscopic organisms, by worms such as nematodes, polychaetes and oligochaeta, and by amphipoda, bivalvia and gastropoda.

Fish that feed on organic detritus in turn provide food to larger land and water carnivores.

Mammals include crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus), jaguar (Panthera onca), mantled howler (Alouatta palliata) and white-headed capuchin (Cebus capucinus).

38% of the two mangrove sub-regions is in critical condition and suffers from high levels of fragmentation.

However, development of shrimp farms and conversion of land to pasturage in adjacent areas has affected the mangroves in the Cojimíes sub-region.

Sedimentation in the rivers due to over-grazing on higher lands is an issue in the Chone sub-region.

This may be caused in part by the increase of sedimentation associated with the shrimp farms, creating more shallow water to be colonized by mangroves.

[1] The Congal Biomarine Station is a 210 hectares (520 acres) reserve operated by a private non-profit organization beside the Muisne River estuary that protects the mangrove wetlands.