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COURSE INFO PROVIDER: SWSPCP Webinar
COURSE TITLE: Coastal Wetland Coverage Classification Criteria in Mexico

INSTRUCTORS Joanna Acosta Velazquez

COURSE DESCRIPTION Abstract: Tropical coastal wetlands are highly dynamic and their spatial extent and condition changes rapidly, their effective conservation requires robust knowledge of their past and current status. Adequate spatial delimitation of ecosystems in the tropical coastal landscape can contribute to better understanding the drivers of its ecological-social dynamic (e.g., ecosystem services). Monitoring tropical coastal wetlands extent provides baseline data to guide spatial planning decisions and financial investments that mitigate the effects of global environmental change and coastal development.
The use of remote-sensing geographic and cartographic tools enables long-term and cost-effective mapping and monitoring of land cover and land use at different temporal and spatial scales. Managers and decision-makers typically use knowledge derived from maps to manage ecosystems. Consequently, accurate maps are crucial to guide the conservation and management planning process, including assessing and monitoring evidence-based decision-making.
Mangroves are one of the types of ecosystems in which estimation discrepancies have been analyzed to determine the impacts of data quality on conservation and policy-making. The definition and spatial delimitation of "mangrove" (i.e., mangrove community or stands forest) has implications relevant to the conservation policy of these tropical coastal wetlands/coastal resources. This information is essential to improving land use and environmental policy decisions regarding the conservation of mangroves at different spatial and temporal scales. Discrepancies in mapping criteria of mangrove coverage generate misleading perspectives on different sectors impacting its conservation. Finally, robust ecosystem extent data is crucial for the design and implementation of efficient land use and conservation policies.

Speaker Bio: Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Guadalajara. Master of Science in Biology from the Food and Development Research Center in environmental management of coastal zones. Twenty years of experience in the environmental field in Mexico. Founding partner of Aura – manglares y costas S.C. (mangroves and coasts). Lead Academic Researcher for coastal basin management in the United Academics Mazatlan of the Food and Development Research Center (CIAD), the National Commission of Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity and the Northwest Fund.

Research professor of the Natural Science faculty at the Autonomous University of Carmen in Bioeconomics, Sustainable Development, Geographic Information Systems, Biology. Consultant and project researcher of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Adaptation Fund, United Nations Development Program, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas Mexico. Instructor of courses in Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems, Landscape Ecology of different environmental organizations and countries of Latin America. Founder of the Mangrove Monitoring System of Mexico. Member of the National Committee of Mangroves. Guest of the scientific group “Blue Carbon Initiative.”

Credit Points: 0.06

SYLLABUS/TOPICAL OUTLINE - Introduction (5 minutes) - Methodology (10 minutes) - Results (10 minutes) - Discussion (10 minutes) - Conclusions (10 minutes) - Questions and Answers (15 minutes)

COURSE CONTACT

Jason Tucker
9999 Carver Road, Cincinnati, OH, OH 45242-5552
jason.tucker@hdrinc.com
P: 15133492478
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