Introduction:

Mangroves are ecosystems that provide goods and services for populations that live on the coasts. Therefore, the permanence of these forests must be ensured.

Objectives:

To identify the factors that control the distribution and structure of the mangrove vegetation of the lagoon of Mandinga, Veracruz; the degree of dependence of the inhabitants towards the ecosystem; and the sources of habitat disturbance, which prevent natural regeneration.

Materials and methods:

A total of 156 random quarter points were identified on 13 transects of variable length to obtain physiognomic values and importance value index of the species, as well as a general physiognomic profile of the community. Through surveys, villagers recognized goods and services and the main threats to the ecosystem.

Results and discussion:

Three mangrove species were zoned according to a water-ground gradient: Rhizophora mangle L., Avicennia germinans (L.) L. and Laguncularia racemosa (L.) C. F. Gaertn. Avicennia germinans was the species with the greatest value of importance. Land use change, degradation due to discharge of wastewater and pollution due to hydrocarbons and heavy metals were the main negative factors on mangrove.

Conclusion:

The restoration of the Mandinga mangrove should consider the formation of mangrove islands; reforestation based on the microclimatic requirements of each species and geomorphology of the site; and conservation of the surrounding vegetation such as the evergreen forest and coastal dunes.

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