Species Benefiting From Restoration:
48 species of finfish within 26 families, including:
   • Mangrove Oyster (MO) Crassostrea rhizophorae
   • Sport fish Diaperus Plumieri or Stripped Mojarra
   • Centropomus undecimalis or Common Snook
   • Phoeroides testinudeus or Checkered Puffer
   • Gerres sinereus or Yellowfin Mojarra
   • Marshes
   • Mangroves
   • Sea grass beds
   • Coral reefs
   • Manatee

Acres of Habitat To be Restored:
To restore one (1) lineal mile of coastal area at the Península La Esperanza (PLE) - Cataño, by the San Juan Bay (SJB) area; and the restoration of one and a half (1 ½) acres of herbaceous wetland within Las Cucharillas Marsh (LCM).

Project Summary:
In order to assure a true solid success of this Project, GW is prepared to, EDUCATE and TRAIN the Volunteers in the proper handling and care of the systems. Through the proper EDUCATION, the communities to be impacted will earn and develop the sense of belonging of these eco-systems; so in other words, these communities will be supporting the protection and permanency of said efforts. Last, water quality of the runoff waters coming from the wetland into the bay will be improved. At the same time, nourishing the development and recuperation of lost habitats within the marsh and the estuary. By improving the ecosystem we are tackling- illegal discharges with phosphate, nitrate, potassium that reduce oxygen levels, oil and hydrocarbons from runoff waters from HW PR5 and Municipal and Industrial waste collector ARB.

Project Objectives:

• Provide wetland/marsh environmental education to the Juana Matos/Cucharillas/Pt. Blanco and Bay View/Bahía communities, by means of ten (10) meetings/presentations at each of these communities, for a total of twenty (20) meetings/presentations.
• Planting 1,800 RM trees for the restoration of approximately 1 linear mile.

Community Involvement:
This project will restore the wetland in Juana Matos with volunteers from three local organized community based NGOs 1) Juana Matos, 2) Cucharillas and 3) Puente Blanco. Children and community members to be trained on planting techniques, restoration programs activities as well as trees and ecosystems cycles. Youth actively participate in ecosystems benefits trainings such as – CO2 sequestration, reforestation process, etc. Providing twenty (20) meetings/conferences, with several dates to assure attendance. The Educational component is the vehicle to access the community members and engage them to practice as volunteers. This component assesses knowledge and change in attitudes, providing for programs success. Community leaders, public schools teachers, youth groups and community members are part of twenty three- hours meetings (conducted on Saturdays, after school hours and evenings). Ten meetings minimum, with Bay View, Bahía and surrounding communities and fisheries (red mangroves) and ten minimum with Juana Matos/ Cucharillas and Puente Blanco Communities. Participants of said meetings will have the opportunity to practice theory learned and become volunteers. Children of the area conduct the plantings and monitoring as part of their educational process.