Marismas Nacionales-San Blas mangroves is a mangrove ecoregion of the Pacific coast of Mexico. The marismas nacionales ("national marshes") strerches from Mazatlán, Sinaloa southwards to San Blas, Nayarit.
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Setting
The Marismas Nacionales-San Blas mangroves occupy an area of 2,000 square kilometers (770 sq mi) in coastal Nayarit and Sinaloa states. This is the largest area of mangroves on Mexico's Pacific coast.
Fauna
The mangroves are home to over 250 species of birds, and serve as an important winter habitat for migratory birds.
Conservation and threats
Since 2009, Fonatur (Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo), the Mexican tourism investment office, is planning a large tourism development adjacent to Marismas Nacionales that will include over 43,000 hotel and vacation home rooms, at least three golf courses, two marinas, commercial centers, and general urbanization. The direct and indirect impacts of this development, including the city that will be created nearby to house the workers servicing the tourism lodging and attractions, pose a substantial threat to the conservation of the Marismas Nacionales-San Blas Mangroves.
