1. Forest variations in the limits of an
island
Rain and Dry Forests in Puerto Rico
By:
Paola Caballero
Alejandra M. De Jesús
Valerie Flores
Jessica Rodríguez

2. Introduction…
What is a forest?
 Forests are ecosystems.
 An ecosystem consists of all the living things in a
particular area, along with all the nonliving
components of the environment with which living
things interact (soil, water, temperature, atmospheric
gases, light).

3. • Conserve soil and prevent erosion (wearing away
of the land by wind and water)
• Habitat for our biodiversity.
 Are representations of our flora and fauna,
custodians of these.
• Provide wood
products.
Introduction
Importance of forests

4. • Provide a healthy
environment for passive
outdoor recreation.
• Its incredible diversity of
species allows Education
and Research experiences.
Introduction
Importance of forests

5. There are 20 state forests and one federal forest
in Puerto Rico.
Forests in Puerto Rico

6. Practically all climates
present in Puerto Rico are
represented in the forests,
from tropical dry to very
humid climate.
 Guánica dry forest (high
salinity, arid coasts)
 “El Yunque” National forest
(rainforest)
Forests in Puerto Rico

7. • Sierra de Luquillo (southeast of San Juan)
• Crown lands (Spanish government), identified as
forest reserves.
• Change of sovereignty came to be administered by
the Forest Service of the Agriculture Department of
the United States (only tropical forest under United
States jurisdiction)
“El Yunque” National Forest
Caribbean National Forest

8. • 1976 - United Nations recognized the
ecological value of “El Yunque” and joined it
to the Reserves of the Man and the
Biosphere
• In terms of study and management, it is one
of the best rainforests.
“El Yunque” National forest
Caribbean National Forest

9. • 1981 – United Nations
recognized the
ecological value of the
forest and appointed
him as the second
International Biosphere
Reserve in Puerto Rico
• World’s best preserved
tropical forest and less
disturbed by humans.
Guánica Dry Forest Southwest coast of Puerto
Rico

10. •El Yunque
• 500 inches of rain in a
year in the highest
peaks.
• Daily temperatures are
25.5 ˚C.
•Guánica Dry Forest
• The annual
precipitation is
between 25 to 30
inches.
• Temperatures ranging
between 75˚F in cold
months and 95˚F in
hot months.
Precipitation and Temperature

11. Rain Forest
El Yunque (Flora)
1
2
3
4
Cassia decian (deep roots
with breaking effects)
Yagrumos (sexual
reproduction, there’s various
types)
Pino caribea (fast growing)
Bamboo (tall grass, dies fast)
5
6
7
8
Rábano (plague, exotic
becomes dominant)
Guava (co-evolution, relation
with abayarde)
Jacana (eatable fruit, tall and
long leaves)
Mosses (stacked to the
ground, lots of surface)

12. Cassia decian
Mosses
Yagrumo
Bamboo

13. Dry Forest
Guánica (Flora)
1
2
3
4
Melocactus (stem
photosynthetic and thorns)
Bursera (peeling tree, small,
long lasting)
Agave (exotic, 20 ft, asexual
reproduction, monocarpic
and clumping distribution)
Vanilla Orchid (Vine in
shrubs, CAM photosynthesis,
stem succulent)
5
6
7
8
Salicornia (grows in salt flats,
leave succulent)
Consolea (opuntia, formed a
trunk, avoid fire and grazing
animals damage, tall)
Mangrove (salt-loving plant,
roots grow up in search for
oxygen)
Grass (uniform and dispersed
growth)

14. Agave
Melocactus
Bursera
Vanilla Orchid
Grass Salicornia
Mangrove

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17. Fluorescent Slug
Walking Stick
Caracolus caracola

18. Dry Forest
Guánica (Fauna)
1
2
3
4
Swallowtail (insect eating
bird)
Lizards (brown, in the
shadows)
Bees (pollinating factors)
Frogs (hatch in the presence
of water)
5
6
7
8
Jueyes (live underground)
Guaraguao (eats dead
animals)
Wasps (pollinators)
Moths (the pollinator of
certain plants)

21. • “El Yunque National
Forest”
 Palo Colorado
Forest
 Hollows of this tree
are used for the
Puerto Rican parrot
nests.
• Guánica Dry Forest
 Intermittent
freshwater ponds
that serve as
reproduction area
for the crested
toad
Both forests are home to endangered
species

22. In el Yunque, the structure of the
rock walls and trails has been
collapsing and one of the major
causes is human disturbance.
• Frequent visiting of tourists
• Heaviness and emissions of cars
and trucks
Consequences of Contamination
Collapsing structure
gabion

23. In Guánica, the dry forest is victim
of constant fires. Some are
naturally occurring, but most are
the cause of human interaction
with the environment. The
emissions of a fire contaminate
the air and fog so necessary for
the plants.
• Many plants do not survive such
harsh conditions.
Consequences of Contamination
Fires
Fire’s rests

24. Global contamination affects one
way or another the composition
of water. Rain is no exception. The
acidity of rain affects both forests:
• Yunque- heavy amounts of rain
stripes the soil of its nutrients,
leaving little to the plants and
affecting their growth.
Consequences of Contamination
Rain
Low pH soil

25. Global contamination affects one
way or another the composition
of water. Rain is no exception. The
acidity of rain affects both forests:
• Guanica- rain erodes limestone,
forming small to big cavities on
the surface of the limestone.
Consequences of Contamination
Rain

26. Economical Benefits

27. El Yunque
Tourist Agenda
•Visit El Yunque.
•Climb to the top
and/or go to the
waterfalls
•Get something to eat
after a long day of
sightseeing and
walking in the
Luquillo’s kiosks.
•Stay in a hotel, rest
and go to the beach

28. Dry Forest Guánica
Tourist Agenda
•Visit the Dry Forest
•Watch amazed how in
the same island can
there be two
completely different
forests.
•Get refreshed in the
beach nearby after a
long and hot day
•Stay in Copamarina
hotel

29. “If you cut down a
forest, it doesn't
matter how many
sawmills you have
if there are no more
trees.”
~ Susan George
“If you cut down a
forest, it doesn't
matter how many
sawmills you have
if there are no
more trees.”
~ Susan George