YEAR 2009 - CRP Project #4001C (Caribbean)
Project #4001C
Community-Driven Restoration
of the Coastal Punta Tuna Natural Reserve
Maunabo, Puerto Rico

Habitat Identification in the Punta Tuna Natural Reserve |
Project name: |
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Community-Driven Restoration of the Coastal Punta Tuna Natural Reserve |
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Project number: |
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4001C |
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Project status: |
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In Progress |
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Grant Administrator: |
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Gulf of Mexico Foundation (for NOAA) |
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Grantee: |
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MAR Management Solutions |
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Project location: |
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Maunabo, Puerto Rico |
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Grant period: |
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Jan 1, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 |
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Grant amount: |
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$32,825 |
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Land Ownership: |
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Public |
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Lat/Long: |
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17.989719N / 65.885414W |
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Types of Habitat: |
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Turtle nesting beach, mangrove wetland, brackish/freshwater marsh, coral reef |
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Project leader: |
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Eileen Alicea, President
MAR Management Solutions, LLC
8045 Newell St. Suite #208
Silver Spring, MD 20910
www.mar-ms.com |
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Species Benefiting From Restoration:
Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)
Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans)
White mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa)
Button Mangrove (Conocarpus erectus)
Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus)
White Mullet and Liza (Mugil curema y Mugil liza)
Fat sleeper (Dormitator maculatus)
Spinycheek sleeper (Eleotris pisoni)
Coral Reef
Acres of Habitat To be Restored:
Approximately 1 acre
Project Summary:
Comit้ Pro-desarrollo de Maunabo (CM; citizens group)
initiated and achieved the naming of the Punta Tuna Reserve
by the Puerto Rico Legislature and the Governor, followed by
purchasing of the land by DNER. They are now committed to
restoring and co-managing the coastal reserve by taking a
comprehensive approach. The project will achieve coastal
habitat protection and restoration by removing physical
barriers that interfere with the ecological integrity of the
NR and constructing them at key places that will protect the
habitat from trampling by vehicles, cattle, and horses. The
project will also achieve planting of appropriate coastal
vegetation in turtle nesting and mangrove forest areas. This
action will prevent marine turtles from becoming disoriented
by the lights in an outdoor recreational area and will also
prevent potential sedimentation and animal waste from
reaching the mangrove area.
Project Objectives:
- To plant 7 of the 14 native species recommended in the NR
characterization document for the ocean-side and land-side
fringes of mangrove forest and turtle nesting beach area
- To involve the Maunabo community in on-the-ground vegetation
restoration, education and monitoring activities
- To educate beach and Natural Reserve users on the importance of
habitat conservation and appropriate behaviors and practices
- To remove and construct barriers that will protect NR
habitat from human uses (trampling and/or compacting by cars,
cows, and horses)
On-The-Ground Activities:
- Install metal guardrails at key spots along the land side
of the turtle nesting beach that will prevent cars and
off-road vehicles from transiting on the nesting beach
(approximate length of installation is 150 m)
- Construct a fence on the boundary of the Natural Reserve
and the road to prevent cattle from entering the Reserve to
pasture and contaminate the mangrove and brackish water
habitats
- Plant native vegetation on the turtle nesting beach and
on the fringe of the adjacent developed area (this latter
activity will prevent turtles from becoming disoriented)
- Plant native vegetation in the mangrove area to reduce
sedimentation
- Eliminate illegally constructed fences that maintain
cattle in certain sections of the Reserve
- Conduct educational activities
Community Involvement:
Schools and community members will participate in educational
workshops, removal of barriers, and vegetation planting
projects. A partnership led by the active local citizens
group CM (Comit้ Maunabo) will implement this project as CM
accomplished in the designation of the Natural Reserve. CM
and DNER will coordinate restoration activities that will
result in turtle nesting and mangrove habitat restoration. CM
will coordinate vegetative restoration activities for several
patches of land that will total 1 cuerda (0.97 acre) and
provide the volunteer workforce. CM and DNER will coordinate
and conduct community education workshops to promote
participation and understanding of the project restoration
activities.
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