Evaluación ecológica rápida del estado de conservación del cocodrilo americano y caimán de anteojos en Bahía de La Unión, El Salvador

The project aimed to promote the integrated management of coastal watersheds through the protection of ecosystem services and biodiversity, the generation of sustainable livelihoods for communities, local practices for climate change adaptation, and support for participatory water governance at all levels. The project was made possible through the cooperation of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The evaluation of the ecological state of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and the spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) in Bahía de La Unión, El Salvador, was conducted as part of the project. The evaluation was carried out in collaboration with Guardarecursos from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of El Salvador (MARN) and the Fundación Salvadoreña para la Promoción Social y el Desarrollo Económico (FUNSALPRODESE), the University of Guadalajara, the Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, independent researchers, and personnel from the UICN. The evaluation aimed to assess the state of the populations of crocodilian species present in the Gulf of Fonseca. The evaluation was conducted through a combination of methods, including habitat evaluation, visual detection at night, and capture and marking of animals. The results of the evaluation showed that the populations of American crocodiles and spectacled caimans in the region are vulnerable due to habitat loss, hunting, and other human activities. The American crocodile is listed in the Appendices I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), indicating that it is protected in its range countries. The species has been downlisted from "Endangered" to "Vulnerable" in the IUCN Red List, but its population trend is still uncertain. The spectacled caiman is listed as "Least Concern" in the IUCN Red List, but its population status has not been recently assessed. Crocodilians play important ecological roles in their habitats, including maintaining the hydroperiod in mangroves, participating in nutrient cycling, and controlling the population of pests. They are also valuable for their meat, hides, and ecotourism potential. However, their populations are threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and other human activities, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect these species and their habitats. The project's findings and recommendations are presented in the following sections, which provide a detailed account of the evaluation's results and the implications for conservation and management of the species and their habitats.