Wetland Resources: Puerto Rico

The island of Puerto Rico, located in the northern Caribbean Sea, and its principal offshore islands of Vieques, Culebra, and Mona have abundant wetland resources. The subtropical climate, abundant rainfall, and complex topographic and geologic features of these islands give rise to wetlands ranging from the rare and unusual cloud forests in the highlands to extensive mangrove forests, seagrasses, and coral reefs along the northern and southern coasts. However, wetland resources of Puerto Rico have declined during the last several hundred years as a result of an increase in agricultural development, population, and tourism.