A growing ecological awareness
Puerto Rico has more cars than inhabitants on the island; on the beaches, the ecological reflexes are not always there; renewable energies are struggling to make their place. However, citizen initiatives to educate and develop the ecological awareness of future generations, measures for environmental protection and militant actions (for the use of bicycles in the city, for example) are multiplying. If governmental efforts in this field remain insufficient, the progressive change of mentalities and individual awareness are already a hope for tomorrow.
A limited but unique fauna
The Puerto Rican fauna is unique. Of course, it is home to species common to the countries of the region; then, like other Caribbean islands, endemic species. Scientists have identified about 350 species of birds inhabiting the island, a third of which are historically native to Puerto Rico. As for the mammals, they are all imported or almost. Except for the bat, they were all introduced to the island when the Spanish settlers arrived. Even monkeys have only been in Puerto Rico for a few centuries. One of the best illustrations of the island in this regard is the presence of the Paso Finos, horses resulting from the crossing of Berber and Spanish mounts. They too were brought to the island by the Spaniards. There are about 9,000 of them in Puerto Rico, many of which live in the wild (many can be found on Vieques Island). The other animal attraction of the island is theEleutherodactylus, a small endemic frog, known by the more common name of coqui. It can be heard especially at night in the mountains. There were originally a dozen species, but three have already disappeared. As for the marine fauna, all the species of fish that swim in fresh water have been imported by man.to observe unique animals in the world, it is advisable to go to isolated islets, such as La Mona. There you can meet boas or iguanas whose bodies can easily grow up to 1 meter. Rhesus macaques also live there, with the well-known case of the islet Santiago, famous among others for its high population of monkeys. These little creatures are normally native to China or Afghanistan, but they were introduced to Santiago as part of a scientific study in 1938, before being left in the wild for several decades.
Iguanas, an invasive species
There would be 4 million iguanas for 3.5 million inhabitants on the island! In other words, much, much too many. They can be seen almost everywhere, including on the lawns and stone walls of San Juan. On some roads, these prehistoric looking reptiles come to warm up on the asphalt and are regularly hit by vehicles. On some sections of the road, it is even a real carnage. With good reason, Puerto Ricans, including some of the most fervent defenders of nature, now consider them a nuisance, because the iguanas ravage plantations, damage infrastructure, and cause accidents. And because they multiply exponentially without any predators, they also endanger the biodiversity of the ecosystem. Iguanas are herbivores, they are fond of fruits (bananas, mangoes, carambola). They can live up to 20 years, measure up to 2 meters and reach 5kg. They are not aggressive and will tend to move away quickly when approached. In other Central and South American countries, iguana meat is consumed. This is not the case in Puerto Rico. So these fascinating creatures reproduce like crazy. There are iguana hunters in Puerto Rico, called "Los Ignaneros". They hunt them especially on large estates where they could damage the crops.
Frogs that sing
In Puerto Rico, there are 17 different species of frogs, 13 of which live inside El Yunque Park, and 11 species in the reserve are endemic, meaning that they are not found anywhere else in the world. Currently, two of them are threatened with extinction, due to the environmental change observed in recent years in the park. The smallest frog, the Dente, measures no more than 15 mm, while the largest can reach 9 cm in length, as is the case for the Palmeado. Keep your eyes open! Puerto Ricans like to give them the generic term coquí, because of the sound they make. But in reality, only the mountain and common frogs make a sound that comes close. The coquíes begin to sing at sunset. According to specialists, each species makes a different sound, mainly due to the difference in size between them. Observers believe that they sing for three different reasons: to indicate their connection with another frog, to signal their presence in a territory and thus take over it, and finally to indicate a food source. One of the most easily visible coquís is the Palmeado , which is found near small streams or at the foot of waterfalls. Of course, when the flood of visitors invests the waterfall of La Mina, they hide. But in the morning, when everything is still very quiet, it is not uncommon to see them walking around. The great majority of the species live in the trees. The coquis are also different from other frogs in the way they reproduce. They do not need a mating period. They place their eggs in the damp earth. It is estimated that litters range from 25 to 30 eggs. Of the 13 species residing in Yunque, five of them require the male to cover and protect the eggs. In all cases, the females are chased away once the eggs have been laid! Puerto Rico now uses the coquí symbol in its communication campaigns. And you will be able to acquire them in the form of jewelry since the beast has inspired many local creations.
A wide variety of plant species
As for the plants, there is a great variety of species despite the relatively small size of the island. This is explained by the difference in relief between the coast and the mountainous center of Puerto Rico, but also by the different climates that appear there. Lovers of exotic fruits will be delighted, between bananas, papayas, carambolas, pineapples... The most famous ecosystem for visitors is probably the mangrove, which can be found everywhere, especially along the northern coast and in the swampy areas. Further inland, it is the flamboyan (flamboyant) that attracts the eye with its treasure of red or yellow flowers. Puerto Ricans often joke that having a beautiful flamboyan in the garden is enough to make you feel like you have a beautiful home. The subtropical forests in the heart of the island also contain their plant jewels. More than 50 species of orchids have been recorded in Toro Negro or in Yunque. It is also possible to find beautiful mahoganies like in Martinique. Finally, the other interesting phenomenon is the vegetation of the dry forest of Guanica, so rare in subtropical zone. Species familiar from the Mediterranean coast or from Mexico have made their home here, such as small cacti and a lot of scrub.
Bioluminescence, a rare phenomenon
A phenomenon almost unique in the world, the bioluminescent bays of Puerto Rico are an integral part of the natural treasures of the island. While there are only five in the world, Puerto Rico is fortunate to have three. They are located in La Parguera, Fajardo and on the island of Vieques. At nightfall, under a starry sky, the water sparkles and lights up at the slightest movement, reminiscent of the night scenes in the movie Avatar. The bioluminescence is created by dinoflagellates, micro-organisms that react by signaling themselves with a small neon light when the water is agitated.
National parks
Puerto Rico, an island of 50 shades of green, has about 20 recognized national parks. It would be unforgivable to come without visiting at least one. It is important to note that some parks may not live up to your expectations, due to the ongoing restoration work of some of them
Bosque Nacional El Yunque, in the northeast, is the best known of all. Located only 45 minutes by car from San Juan. It is still the only subtropical rainforest in the U.S. protected by the U.S. Forest Service and recognized by them as the most biologically diverse.
Bosque Estatal de Toro Negro, in the center of the country, is a smaller, less visited version of El Yunque. The highest point of the island, Cerro de Punta (1,338 m), is located in its surroundings.
Bosque Estatal de Piñones, east of San Juan, is the largest continuous natural system of mangroves on the island and covers 630 hectares. It represents a natural habitat for a great diversity of marine and terrestrial life, and some funds should be invested to rehabilitate the walking paths.
Bosque Estatal de Cambalache, between Barceloneta and Arecibo is known for its eucalyptus and teak plantations. The forest covers the coastal limestone hills called "mogotes". Peaceful and with pleasant temperatures, it is possible to camp there, preferably between the months of February and June to avoid the rains.
Bosque Estatal de Guánica, in the southwest of Puerto Rico, is the only dry forest on the island and is also the best example in the Caribbean. Covering nearly 1,000 hectares, it is home to both forest and coastal trails along the beach, which will delight hikers and birdwatchers.
