Mangroves are forested ecosystems located in the transitional zone between the continent and the ocean; their importance lies in the assets they offer to human communities at the local level and by the ecosystem services they offer at the local and regional level. The analysis of conservation degree of these ecosystems in the Colombian Caribbean region shows that the mangroves in Sucre, La Guajira, Magdalena and Antioquia departments, have acceptable conditions of conservation; Córdoba is the only department which this forest formation registers good conditions of conservation in several sectors, which is related to a better structural development and greater species richness. The use and management of the mangroves of the Córdoba department is proposed as a source of non-timber forest products, in order to promote the conservation of these important ecosystems and encourage the sustainable development of the communities that depend on these environments.