Entrance sign to El Yunque National Forest.

The protected areas of Puerto Rico include an array of natural areas in the archipelago of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States, managed by a number of agencies and entities belonging to both federal and commonwealth government bodies. Although Puerto Rico has no natural units in the National Park System, the biodiversity of the island is recognized and protected through a national forest, a national wildlife refuge, a national wilderness, and numerous state parks (called national parks in Puerto Rico[1]), nature reserves, state forests, wildlife preserves and other designations on state, municipal and public-private administration levels.[2][3][4]

Federal level

El Yunque National Forest

National Estuarine Research Reserves

Main article: National Estuarine Research Reserve

National Forests

Main article: National forest (United States)
Puerto Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay, Vieques

National Natural Landmarks

Main article: National Natural Landmark

National Wild and Scenic Rivers

Main article: National Wild and Scenic Rivers System

National Wilderness Preservation System

Main article: National Wilderness Preservation System

National Wildlife Refuge

Main article: National Wildlife Refuge

Commonwealth level

Puerto Rico Northern Karst, Arecibo

Conservation Easement Sites (Servidumbres de conservación)

Main article: Conservation easement

Conservation Zones

Marine Reserves

Main article: Nature reserves in Puerto Rico § List of marine reserves in Puerto Rico

Nature Reserves (Reservas Naturales)

Mona Island ground iguana

Main article: Nature reserves in Puerto Rico

Protected Natural Areas (Áreas naturales protegidas)

La Robleda, Cayey

Main article: Protected natural areas of Puerto Rico

Research Reserves (Áreas de investigación)

State Forests (Bosques Estatales)

Guánica State Forest

Main article: List of state forests in Puerto Rico

State Parks (Parques Nacionales de Puerto Rico) and other protected areas

Las Casas de la Selva, Patillas

Wildlife Refuges (Refugios de Vida Silvestre)

Municipal level

References

  1. ^ "Directorio de agencias - Compañía de Parques Nacionales de Puerto Rico (CPNPR)". pr.gov (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2023-03-04. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  2. ^ USDA, Forest Service. "Protected Natural Areas of Puerto Rico" (PDF). fs.usda.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-13. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  3. ^ "Natural Protected Areas of Puerto Rico (December 2016 Inventory) | The Caribbean LCC CPA". caribbeanlcc.databasin.org. Archived from the original on 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  4. ^ "Nuestras Áreas Naturales Protegidas". DRNA (in Spanish). 2019-04-24. Archived from the original on 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  5. ^ AN ACT To designate Punta Cucharas natural area of the Municipality of Ponce as a Natural Reserve Area of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to be administered pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 150 of 4 August 1988, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Natural Patrimony Program Act." Legislature of Puerto Rico. Legislative Year 2008, Law No. 227. House Bill #3797. 9 August 2008. Accessed 8 June 2016. Archive.
  6. ^ a b c Municipio Autónomo de Caguas (12 June 2015). "Revisión Integral del Plan Territorial del Municipio Autónomo de Caguas" (PDF) (in Spanish). p. 42. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.

External links

Protected areas of Puerto Rico
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