![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Entrance_to_El_Yunque_National_Forest_sign%2C_Puerto_Rico.jpg/220px-Entrance_to_El_Yunque_National_Forest_sign%2C_Puerto_Rico.jpg)
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), nature reserves, state forests, wildlife preserves and "other designations on state," municipal and public-private administration levels.
Federal level※
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/El_Yunque_peak.jpg/220px-El_Yunque_peak.jpg)
National Estuarine Research Reserves※
National Forests※
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Mosquito_bay%2C_Bioluminescent_bay%2C_Vieques_-_panoramio_%282%29.jpg/220px-Mosquito_bay%2C_Bioluminescent_bay%2C_Vieques_-_panoramio_%282%29.jpg)
National Natural Landmarks※
National Wild and Scenic Rivers※
National Wilderness Preservation System※
National Wildlife Refuge※
- Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge spanning Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Navassa Island with the following units in Puerto Rico:
Commonwealth level※
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Mogotes_in_Arecibo.jpg/220px-Mogotes_in_Arecibo.jpg)
Conservation Easement Sites (Servidumbres de conservación)※
- Centro Espíritu Santo
- El Rabanal
- El Tambor
- Foreman Conservation Easement
- Gulín Farm
- Ledesma Moulier Farm
- María Luisa Farm
- Montes Oscuros
- Palmas del Mar Tropical Forest
- Picaflor Conservation Easement
- Siembra Tres Vidas
Conservation Zones※
- Puerto Rico karst
Marine Reserves※
- Desecheo Island Coastal Waters Marine Reserve
- Isla Verde Reef Marine Reserve
- Tres Palmas Marine Reserve
Nature Reserves (Reservas Naturales)※
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Mona_ground_Iguana_Iguana_de_Mona_en_la_playa_%285839983809%29.jpg/220px-Mona_ground_Iguana_Iguana_de_Mona_en_la_playa_%285839983809%29.jpg)
- Aguas Buenas Cave System
- Belvedere Farm (part of Boquerón State Forest)
- Caja de Muertos
- Caño La Boquilla
- Caño Martín Peña Nature Reserve
- Caño Tiburones
- Cayo Ratones (part of Boquerón State Forest)
- Cialitos River Nature Reserve
- Cibuco Swamp
- Condado Lagoon
- Cueva del Indio
- Espíritu Santo River Nature Reserve
- Guayama Reef
- Hacienda La Esperanza Nature Reserve
- Humacao Nature Reserve
- Joyuda Lagoon (part of Boquerón State Forest)
- La Cordillera Reef
- La Parguera (part of Boquerón State Forest)
- Las Cabachuelas Caves
- Las Cabezas de San Juan
- Las Cucharillas Swamp
- Las Piedras del Collado
- Luis Peña Channel
- Mata de Plátano Field Station
- Mona and Monito Islands Nature Reserve
- Northeast Ecological Corridor
- Seven Seas Farm
- Planadas-Yeyesa Nature Reserve
- Playa Grande El Paraíso
- Pterocarpus Forest of Humacao
- Punta Ballenas Nature Reserve (part of Guánica State Forest)
- Punta Cucharas
- Punta Petrona Nature Reserve
- Punta Tuna Mangrove
- Punta Vientos Wetland
- Punta Yeguas
- San Juan Ecological Corridor
- Tortuguero Lagoon
- Tourmaline Reef
- Vieques Bioluminescent Bay (Puerto Mosquito)
Protected Natural Areas (Áreas naturales protegidas)※
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Larobledaprotectedarea.jpg/220px-Larobledaprotectedarea.jpg)
- Bairoa River Protected Natural Area
- Cerro Felíz
- Cerro La Tuna
- Cerro Las Mesas
- Cordillera Sabana Alta
- Culebras Protected Natural Area
- Dorado Pterocarpus Forest
- El Conuco Protected Natural Area
- El Convento Cave
- Encantado River Protected Natural Area
- Freddie Ramírez Protected Natural Area
- Guaynabo River Protected Natural Area
- Hacienda Buena Vista Protected Natural Area
- Hacienda Lago Protected Natural Area
- Hacienda Margarita Protected Natural Area
- Hacienda Pellejas Protected Natural Area
- Hermanas Sendra Protected Natural Area
- Jacaboa River Protected Natural Area
- Jájome
- Jorge Sotomayor del Toro Protected Natural Area
- La Pitahaya Protected Natural Area
- La Robleda Protected Natural Area
- Las Bocas Canyon
- Los Frailes Farm Protected Natural Area
- Los Llanos Protected Natural Area
- Luz Martínez de Benítez Protected Natural Area
- Maricao River Protected Natural Area
- Marín Alto Protected Natural Area
- Medio Mundo and Daguao Protected Natural Area
- Ojo de Agua Protected Natural Area
- Paraíso de las Lunas Protected Natural Area
- Punta Cabullones Protected Natural Area
- Punta Pozuelo Protected Natural Area
- Punta Soldado Protected Natural Area
- Quebrada Janer Protected Natural Area
- San Cristóbal Canyon
- San Juan Park Protected Natural Area
- Sana Muerto River Protected Natural Area
- Shapiro Protected Natural Area
- Sierra Pandura
- Toa Vaca River Protected Natural Area
- Toro Negro River Protected Natural Area
- Ulpiano Casal Protected Natural Area
Research Reserves (Áreas de investigación)※
- Guayama Research Area
- Manatí Research Area
State Forests (Bosques Estatales)※
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Guayac%C3%A1n_Centenario%2C_Gu%C3%A1nica%2C_Puerto_Rico.jpg/220px-Guayac%C3%A1n_Centenario%2C_Gu%C3%A1nica%2C_Puerto_Rico.jpg)
- Aguirre
- Boquerón
- Cambalache
- Carite
- Ceiba
- Cerrillos
- Guajataca
- Guánica
- Guilarte
- Los Tres Picachos
- Maricao
- Monte Choca
- Nuevo Milenio
- Piñones
- del Pueblo
- Río Abajo
- San Patricio
- Susúa
- Toro Negro
- Vega
State Parks (Parques Nacionales de Puerto Rico) and other protected areas※
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Las_Casas_de_la_Selva_-_Eye_On_the_Rainforest.jpg/220px-Las_Casas_de_la_Selva_-_Eye_On_the_Rainforest.jpg)
- Caguana Ceremonial Indigenous Heritage Park
- Caguas Real Reserve (currently managed by the USFWS)
- Camuy River Caves
- El Tallonal
- El Verde Farm
- Finca Longo (managed by the DRNA forest service)
- José Santiago Farm
- Julio Enrique Monagas Park
- Las Casas de la Selva
- Nolla Farm
Wildlife Refuges (Refugios de Vida Silvestre)※
- Boquerón Iris Alameda Wildlife Refuge (part of Boquerón State Forest)
- Cerrillos Lake Wildlife Refuge
- El Buey Natural Wildlife Refuge
- Lake Guajataca Wildlife Refuge
- Lake La Plata Wildlife Refuge
- Lake Luchetti Wildlife Refuge
Municipal level※
- Caguas Regional Forest (Caguas)
- Chalets de Bairoa Natural Area (Caguas)
- Cerro Borrás (Caguas)
- Río Hondo Community Forest (Mayagüez)
References※
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Nuestras Áreas Naturales Protegidas". DRNA (in Spanish). 2019-04-24. Archived from the original on 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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※
- DRNA - Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (in Spanish)
- Para la Naturaleza - Puerto Rico Conservation Trust (in Spanish)
- NPS - United States National Park System (in English)
- USFS - United States Forest Service (in English)