Global InformationReserva Natural Punta Cucharas information
| Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas | |
|---|---|
| Punta Cucharas Nature Reserve | |
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 Sign at the entrance to Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas | |
  Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas The map shows the location of the Natural Reserve | |
| Location | Barrio Canas, Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Nearest city | Ponce |
| Coordinates | PR 17°58′00″N 66°40′23″W / 17.96654°N 66.67292°W |
| Area | Total (Land): 698 cuerdas (678 acres)[1][a] Total (Marine): 3,516 cuerdas (3,415 acres)[2] Las Salinas Lagoon only: 347,898 m2 (86 acres)[3] |
| Designation | 2008[4] |
| Governing body | Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources |
| Fauna and Flora at Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas | |
|---|---|
| Location | Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Established | 2008 |
| Named for | Coastal geographical formation |
| Governing body | Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources |
| Website | Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources |
Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas (Punta Cucharas Nature Reserve) is a nature reserve in Barrio Canas, Ponce, Puerto Rico.[5] It consists of both a land area component as well as an offshore marine area.[6] The land component has an area of 698 cuerdas (678 acres)[7] while the marine component has an expanse of 3,516 cuerdas (3,415 acres),[8] for a total area of 4,214 cuerdas (4,093 acres). The Reserve consists of mangrove ecosystems, coastal sand dunes, a saline lagoon known as Laguna Las Salinas, open water, and a century-old local community.[9] The lagoon occupies and area of 347,898 m2 (86 acres)[10] Ecological protection is managed and enforced by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.[11] Eight activities are allowed at the Reserve: scuba diving, boating, fishing, hiking, sun bathing, photography, bird watching and canoeing. Activities prohibited are: Camping, crabbing/trapping, horseback riding, water crafting, and hunting. Pets, ATVs, and fireplaces are also prohibited.[12]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Construccion de Infraestructuras Minimas Recreativas y Educativas en la Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas: Evaluacion Ambiental: Punta Cucharas. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico. Page 6. October 2012. Accessed 9 June 2016. Archived.
- ^ Educacion Ambiental: Herramienta para Proteger La Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas. Maria de los Angeles Cruz Torres and Natividad Cruz Torres. Universidad Metropolitana, Escuela Graduada de Asuntos Ambientales. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Page 6. 2 December 2009. (In Spanish) Accessed 8 June 2016.
- ^ 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. August 9, 2008. Accessed 8 June 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Protected Natural Areas in Puerto Rico. (Large Map) William A. Gould, Maya Quiñones, Mariano Solórzano, Waldemar Alcobas, and Caryl Alarcón. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry. PR Gap Analysis Project. Accessed 8 June 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Construcción de Infraestructuras Mínimas Recreativas y Educativas en la Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas: Evaluacion Ambiental: Punta Cucharas. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico. Page 6. October 2012. Accessed 9 June 2016. Archived.
- ^ BirdLife Data Zone: Government and local community are working together to restore life to the mangroves of Puerto Rico. BirdLife International. 2016. Accessed 10 June 2016.
- ^ Educación Ambiental: Herramienta para Proteger La Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas. Maria de los Angeles Cruz Torres and Natividad Cruz Torres. Universidad Metropolitana, Escuela Graduada de Asuntos Ambientales. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Page 6. 2 December 2009. (In Spanish) Accessed 8 June 2016.
- ^ Informe Final del Proyecto de Monitoreo Socioeconómico en las Áreas Protegidas Marinas y Costeras de Puerto Rico: Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas, Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rosemarie Vazquez Cruz, Carlos J. Carrero Morales, Jeannette Ramos Garcia, Andreica Maldonado. Carlos Carrero. NOAA, DRNA, Centro Interdisciplinario de Estudios del Litoral (UPR-Mayaguez), Programa de Colegio Sea Grant de la UPR. 2011. Gaspar Pons, Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Re-published by Carlos Carrero. (November 2011). Accessed 7 June 2016.
- ^ Per welcome sign at the entrance to the Reserve. See photo of sign in this article.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).