| Puerto Rico | ||||||||||||||||
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| Location | Caribbean Sea
- Central America in the North Atlantic Ocean, between the Dominican
Republic and the Virgin Islands group
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 66 30 W |
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| National websites | Government of Puerto Rico | |||||||||||||||
| Embassy / Chancery in U.S. | N/A: Puerto Rico is a commonwealth associated with the US | |||||||||||||||
| Agencies responsible for biological inventory and conservation | Energy,
Electricity, & Conservation
Caribbean Recycling Foundation Citizens of the Karst Clear Ambient Service Company National Environmental Resources Puerto Rican Conservation Foundation Marine Conservation in Puerto Rico Proyecto Coqui Environmental Protection Agency |
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| Major Natural Resources | Puerto Rico
is composed of mountains, underground caves, coral reefs, white-sand
beaches and a rain forest big enough to supply water to most of the island.
Wetlands in Puerto Rico are also very diverse. These range from the interior mountaineous wetlands of the rain forest to intertidal mangrove swamps along the coast. Coral reefs provide a sanctuary for many rare fish, invertebrates and mammels. The manitee is one prime example. |
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| Major Environmental and Conservation Issues | Destruction of reefs and overfishing has altered and continues to alter one of Puerto Rico's most important natural resources. The destruction of natural rain forest and the many species contained therin is also a great threat. It is the only rain forest on U.S. territory and thus has even greater impotance. Water pollution in past has been a great concert however efferts have been made to remedy this situation. | |||||||||||||||
| Statistics | Information Sources | |||||||||||||||
| Land area | 8,959 sq km | CIA Factbook | ||||||||||||||
| Area of forest | 1,433 sq km | |||||||||||||||
| Area of wetlands | ||||||||||||||||
| Area of territorial waters | 145 sq km | |||||||||||||||
| Population | 3,857,070 (July 1998 est.) | |||||||||||||||
| Population Density | 430.5 people/sq km | |||||||||||||||
| Area protected (ha) (only areas >1000ha) at all IUCN levels | 28714 | World Conservation Monitoring Centre's list of IUCN areas | ||||||||||||||
| Fraction of land area protected (%) | 1.9% | Unit Conversions | ||||||||||||||
| Major Protected Areas | Lajas Valley
Caribbean National Forest Jobos Bay San Juan Bay |
Valle de Lajas
Jobos Bay Natural Estuary Caribbean National Forest |
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| Endemic Species |
|
Reptiles
of Puerto Rico
Amphibians of Puerto Rico |
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| Endangered, Threatened and Vulnerable Species |
|
Threatened
& Endangered Species
Puerto Rico's Endangered Species Organization |
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| Extinct Species |
|
Reptiles of
Puerto Rico
Amphibians of Puerto Rico |
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| Species listed on CITES Appendix I | ||||||||||||||||
| Species listed on CITES Appendix II | ||||||||||||||||
| Legislation | ||||||||||||||||
| Laws protecting endangered or threatened species |
Puerto Rico's Environmental Justice Department |
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| Laws protecting endangered ecosystems | Environmental Law In Puerto Rico | |||||||||||||||
| Signatory to CITES | YES under U.S. signing on 7/1/75 | |||||||||||||||
| Signatory to Ramsar Wetlands Convention | ||||||||||||||||
| Signatory to Convention on Biological Diversity | ||||||||||||||||
| Signatory to Migratory Bird Treaty | ||||||||||||||||
| Member of International Whaling Commission | ||||||||||||||||
| Signatory to other international treaties designed to protect or manage biological resources | Under U.S. signings | |||||||||||||||
| Natural Resource Use | Information Sources | |||||||||||||||
| Fisheries | The U.S. National Marine Fishery Service has established several management plans for fisheries in Puerto Rico. | Initial Regulations | ||||||||||||||
| Forestry | Several grants and agreements have been establishished which focus on technical assistance, technology transfer and training for State and Private Forestry programs. | State & Private Forestry | ||||||||||||||
| Ecotourism | Many people visit Puerto Rico, lured by its rain forest and reefs. | |||||||||||||||
| Trade in wildlife products | ||||||||||||||||
| Hunting | U.S. gun law in Puerto Rico | |||||||||||||||
| Other uses of natural resources | Land management in Puerto Rico | |||||||||||||||
| Human Impacts on Natural Resources | Information Sources | |||||||||||||||
| Air pollution | The greatest problem is the pollution of the Cataņo Air Basin area. | United Communities Against Contamination | ||||||||||||||
| Water pollution | Water Pollution is strictly monitored under all U.S. regulations. | United Communities Against Contamination | ||||||||||||||
| Development activities | ||||||||||||||||
| Introduced species | 3 reptile species and 5 amphibian species | Reptiles
of Puerto Rico
Amphibians of Puerto Rico |
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| Legislation addressing these issues | Law # 9 (18th June, 1970) | Government Homepage of Environmental Law | ||||||||||||||
| Restoration and Reintroduction | Information Sources | |||||||||||||||
| Programs for restoration of damaged habitat | Jobos Bay Program
San Juan Bay Estuary Program |
Jobos Bay | ||||||||||||||
| Programs for ex situ conservation (captive breeding and reintroduction) of endangered species | Sabanera Dove | Paloma Sabanera | ||||||||||||||
Page compiled by Daniel Van Dellen as part of a class project in h90 "The Science of Biodiversity and Conservation" (Peter J. Bryant, Instructor), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA