List of protected areas of Puerto Rico

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

National Estuarine Research Reserves

National Forests

National Natural Landmarks

National Wild and Scenic Rivers

National Wilderness Preservation System

National Wildlife Refuge

Commonwealth level

Compañía de Parques Nacionales (CPNPR)

Conservation Easement Sites (Servidumbres de conservación)

Conservation Zones

Marine Reserves

Nature Reserves (Reservas Naturales)

Protected Natural Areas (Áreas naturales protegidas)

Research Reserves (Áreas de investigación)

State Forests (Bosques Estatales)

Wildlife Refuges (Refugios de Vida Silvestre)

Other protected areas

Municipal level

  • Caguas Regional Forest (Caguas)[6]
  • Chalets de Bairoa Natural Area (Caguas)
  • Cerro Borrás (Caguas)
  • Río Hondo Community Forest (Mayagüez)

References

  1. ^ "Directorio de agencias - Compañía de Parques Nacionales de Puerto Rico (CPNPR)". pr.gov (in Spanish). Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  2. ^ USDA, Forest Service. "Protected Natural Areas of Puerto Rico" (PDF). fs.usda.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  3. ^ "Natural Protected Areas of Puerto Rico (December 2016 Inventory) | The Caribbean LCC CPA". caribbeanlcc.databasin.org. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "Nuestras Áreas Naturales Protegidas". DRNA (in Spanish). April 24, 2019. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  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 (June 12, 2015). "Revisión Integral del Plan Territorial del Municipio Autónomo de Caguas" (PDF) (in Spanish). p. 42. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.