**3. Results**

To calculate the proposed MCSI, we first estimated each of the components for the 17 mangroves from La Paz Bay. We summarize our findings in the following sections.

#### *3.1. Spatial Analysis and Remaining Vegetation Index (RVI)*

According to the RVI analysis, five communities presented an increase in mangrove cover (RVI > 100), ten showed losses of mangrove forest (RVI < 100), and two could not be analyzed because

we were not able to obtain an original vegetation area. Playa Pichilingue-Brujas experienced the most significant losses of mangrove vegetation, and only 26.98% of the initial cover remained. Enfermería also presented a significant decrease in mangrove cover (44.44%).

#### *3.2. Delphi Method Survey*

We sent a total of 10 surveys to regional mangrove experts; however, just seven people replied. We interviewed them to complement their answers to the surveys (available from the authors upon request). We calculated the median for the score assigned by the experts to each one of the mangrove areas. Only two mangrove communities presented median scores of five, El Merito and Espíritu Santo Archipelago, which presents the best conservation status according to expert opinions (Table 4). Five mangrove areas scored four points for an acceptable conservation level. Moreover the mangroves that scored less than three, meant that they present a major deterioration.


**Table 4.** Values obtained from the Delphi Method Survey applied to experts.

#### *3.3. Rapid Assessment Questionnaire*

The mangroves in La Paz bay presented a varied rank of values for the RAQ. The La Paz-Aeropuerto, Palmira, and Playa Pichilingue–Brujas mangrove communities were the most impacted sites, with RAQ scores between 0.80 and 0.90. Seven mangroves showed medium levels of impact, with scores ranging between 0.50 and 0.70, and another seven sites presented fewer effects, with RAQ values from 0.26 to 0.49 (Table 5).


**Table 5.** Values obtained from the Rapid Assessment Questionnaire applied in field visits.

#### *3.4. Application of the Index*

We multiplied the scores of the RVI, DMS, and RAQ, as described to calculate the MCSI. The El Merito mangrove community presented the highest MCSI of all the sites (95.54), followed by Balandra, Comitán, El Mogote, Estero El Gato, and Zacatecas, which scored values over 80; therefore, these five communities are of "least concern" in accordance with the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems. The MCSI values of another eight mangroves placed them as "near threatened". Otherwise, Enfermeria was classified as "vulnerable", with an MCSI score of 59.22, and Playa Pichilingue-Brujas was classified as "endangered" (MCSI score of 30.01), these last two mangroves were the worst evaluated. Lastly, two mangroves, Salinas de Pichilingue and Espíritu Santo Archipelago, lacked initial information on mangrove cover; therefore, the MCSI resulted in "data deficient" (Table 6).


**Table 6.** MCSI values for each mangrove community.
