**Appendix D**

The IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Categories and Criteria is a global standard for how we assess the status of ecosystems, applicable at local, national, regional, and global levels [51,52]. In this work, we artificially established the values to classify mangroves in each of the categories. Each criterion used for each category is described after the definitions mentioned below (Table A3).


• Collapsed (CO)

"An ecosystem is Collapsed when it is virtually certain that its defining biotic or abiotic features are lost from all occurrences, and the characteristic native biota are no longer sustained. Collapse may occur when most of the diagnostic components of the characteristic native biota are lost from the system, or when functional components (biota that performs key roles in ecosystem organization) are greatly reduced in abundance and lose the ability to recruit" (IUCN, 2019). In this category, the entire vegetation cover of the mangrove community has been destroyed.

• Critically Endangered (CR)

"An ecosystem is Critically Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Critically Endangered. It is therefore considered to be at an extremely high risk of collapse" (IUCN, 2019). In this category, the index score obtained by the mangrove community is less than 20 but higher than zero.

• Endangered (EN)

"An ecosystem is Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Endangered. It is therefore considered to be at a very high risk of collapse" (IUCN, 2019). In this category, the index score obtained by the mangrove community is less than 40 but higher than 20.

• Vulnerable (VU)

"An ecosystem is Vulnerable when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Vulnerable. It is therefore considered to be at a high risk of collapse" (IUCN, 2019). In this category, the index score obtained by the mangrove community is less than 60 but higher than 40.

• Near Threatened (NT)

"An ecosystem is Near Threatened when it has been evaluated against the criteria but does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable now, but is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future" (IUCN, 2019). In this category, the index score obtained by the mangrove community is less than 80 but higher than 60.

• Least Concern (LC)

"An ecosystem is Least Concern when it has been evaluated against the criteria and does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened. Widely distributed and relatively undegraded ecosystems are included in this category" (IUCN, 2019). In this category, the index score obtained by the mangrove community is equal to or less than 100 but higher than 80.

• Data Deficient (DD)

"An ecosystem is Data Deficient when there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of collapse based on decline in distribution, disruption of ecological function or degradation of the physical environment. Data Deficient is not a category of threat, and does not imply any level of collapse risk" (IUCN, 2019). In this category, some of the information considered for the application of the index in a particular mangrove community was not available.

• Not Evaluated (NE)

"An ecosystem is Not Evaluated when it is has not ye<sup>t</sup> been assessed against the criteria" (IUCN, 2019). In this category, it means that it was not evaluated in any way within the three components considered within the index.
