Protectores De Cuencas Inc

PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS WILL BE AWARDED $7.3M TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND REDUCE LAND-BASED SOURCES OF POLLUTION IN THE GU NICA BAY WATERSHED BY WORKING TO RESTORE GU NICA LAGOON. PRIOR TO BEING DRAINED IN 1955, THE GU NICA LAGOON SPANNED APPROXIMATELY 1,200 ACRES AND PROVIDED IMPORTANT BENEFITS FOR FISH, WILDLIFE, AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION TO HABITAT LOSS, DRAINING THE LAGOON SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED THE ABILITY OF THE WATERSHED TO FILTER AND PREVENT SEDIMENTS AND NUTRIENTS FROM REACHING GU NICA BAY AND THE ADJACENT SEAGRASS AND CORAL HABITATS. RESTORATION OF THE LAGOON WILL ALSO INSTALL STORMWATER AND EROSION CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS DOWNSTREAM, INCLUDING A PERMEABLE PARKING LOT. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITORS AND INCREASE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO FLOOD EVENTS.

PURPOSE: THIS PROGRAM WILL DEVELOP NEW TRAINING CURRICULA AND IDENTIFY EXISTING TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS SKILLS IDENTIFIED AS THOSE MOST NEEDED TO IMPROVE CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN COASTAL PUERTO RICO AND THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS. THESE TRAININGS WILL BUILD THE CAPACITY OF THESE COMMUNITIES TO PREPARE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND INCREASE COASTAL RESILIENCE. TRAINING THESE WORKERS WILL BUILD THE CAPACITY OF PUERTO RICAN AND USVI COMMUNITIES TO PREPARE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND INCREASE COASTAL RESILIENCE, WHILE INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF JOBS IN RESILIENCE TO HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.

NATIVE FISH AND SHRIMP SPECIES OF PUERTO RICO RELY ON A DIADROMOUS LIFE CYCLE THAT REQUIRES MIGRATION BETWEEN THE RIVER AND THE SEA. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF DAMS AND STREAM CROSSING STRUCTURES, SUCH AS CULVERTS AND BRIDGES, THE MIGRATORY PATTERN OF THESE SPECIES HAS BEEN DISRUPTED. WHEN TAILORED TO THE LOCATION AND AQUATIC SPECIES FOUND WITHIN A RIVER, FISH PASSAGE INSTALLATIONS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN INCREASING STREAM CONNECTIVITY. NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS PROPOSES TO ADDRESS STREAM CONNECTIVITY LIMITATIONS AT THE CULEBRINAS RIVER DAM THROUGH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION INSTALLATION OF A CUSTOMIZED FISH PASSAGE FOR NATIVE AQUATIC SPECIES. THROUGH THIS PROCESS, PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS AND PROJECT PARTNERS WILL CONDUCT SURVEYS TO INFORM THE NEW FISH PASSAGE DESIGN, COMPLETE A FINAL PROJECT DESIGN, COMPLETE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS, AND ENHANCE SURROUNDING HABITAT THROUGH STREAMBANK STABILIZATION AND RESTORATION. ONCE IMPLEMENTED, THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE BOTH STREAM CONNECTIVITY AND FACILITATE MIGRATION FOR NATIVE FRESHWATER FISH IN THE CULEBRINAS RIVER. THIS PROJECT HAS AN ESTIMATED START DATE OF JANUARY 1, 2023 AND END DATE OF DECEMBER 31, 2025.

LAS SALINAS DE CABO ROJO: NATURE-BASED INTERVENTIONS TO ADDRESS HURRICANE EFFECTS & MITIGATE CURRENT AND ANTICIPATED EFFECTS OF SEA LEVEL RISE ON COASTAL COMMUNITIES, NATURAL AND CULTURAL ASSETS

THE LAGUNA CARTAGENA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IS LOCATED IN THE LAJAS VALLEY, IN THE SOUTHWESTERN REGION OF PUERTO RICO. THIS REFUGE IS AN IMPORTANT WETLAND ECOSYSTEM THAT SERVES AS HABITAT TO RESIDENT AND MIGRATORY BIRD SPECIES, AND IS DESIGNATED AS AN IMPORTANT BIRD AREA BY BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL. ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2022, HURRICANE FIONA MADE LANDFALL IN SOUTHWESTERN PUERTO RICO, CAUSING DAMAGE TO AREAS INCLUDING THE LAGUNA CARTAGENA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, INCLUDING UPROOTING TREES AND BLOCKAGES DUE TO VEGETATIVE DEBRIS. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS INC. WILL HELP TO REHABILITATE SPECIFIC AREAS WITHIN THE REFUGE THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED DEBRIS. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS WILL CLEAR THE WEST DRAINAGE CANAL OF FLOATING DEBRIS THAT HAS ACCUMULATED, AND WILL EVALUATE AND REPLACE DRAINAGE PIPES IN THE CANAL, AS NEEDED. IN ADDITION, PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS WILL REHABILITATE THE LEVEE RUNNING PARALLEL TO THE CANAL, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS AN UNSTABLE SURFACE AND DAMAGE FROM UPROOTED TREES. THE LEVEE WILL BE REHABILITATED BY REGRADING, FILLING, AND COMPACTING, AMONG OTHER TECHNIQUES NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN LEVEE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND FUNCTIONS. ANY ADDITIONAL VEGETATIVE DEBRIS IN THESE AREAS WILL BE REMOVED, MULCHED OR CUT, IF NECESSARY, AND PROPERLY DISPOSED OF IN A LOCAL LANDFILL. PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS WILL PROVIDE ONGOING MAINTENANCE TO THE PROJECT SITE THROUGHOUT THE THREE YEAR PROJECT PERIOD.A SEPARATE STATEMENT OF WORK WAS PREPARED FOR THIS PROJECT KNOWN AS STATEMENT OF WORK FOR STORM DAMAGE PROJECT. WEST CANAL DEBRIS REMOVAL, LEVEE REHABILITATION AND MAINTENANCE AT LAGUNA CARTAGE NWR, LAJAS, PUERTO RICO . THIS DOCUMENT DECRIBES PROJECT SPECIFIC TASKS AND CONDITIONS.

EXPANDING EFFORTS ON BUILDING RESILIENCY IN THE PUERTO RICO NORTHEAST RESERVES BY ADDRESSING LAND-BASED SOURCES OF POLLUTION (LBSPS) AND RESTORING CO

STREAM CONNECTIVITY RESTORATION INITIATIVE IN PRIORITY RIVERS OF PUERTO RICO

PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS, INC., IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PUERTO RICO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, WILL RESTORE 107 ACRES OF COASTAL WETLANDS IN THE PUNTA TUNA NATURAL RESERVE IN SOUTHEASTERN PUERTO RICO. IN 2017, HURRICANE MARIA CAUSED PHYSICAL DAMAGE AND DEPOSITED DEBRIS THAT BLOCKED CHANNELS, PREVENTED DRAINAGE, AND DROWNED MANGROVES AND OTHER COASTAL TREE SPECIES. THE PROJECT WILL REMOVE DEBRIS, REESTABLISH HYDROLOGIC CONNECTIONS, PROVIDE HABITAT FOR THREATENED AND ENDANGERED NATIVE SPECIES, RESTORE COASTAL DUNES, AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY. LAND-BASED SOURCES OF POLLUTION WILL BE PREVENTED FROM REACHING COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH CONSTRUCTION OF A NATURAL VEGETATIVE BUFFER AREA. CONSTRUCTION OF A PERMEABLE PARKING LOT WILL ALSO IMPROVE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE RESERVE IS ONE OF THE MOST VISITED SITES IN THE AREA AND IMPROVEMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESTORATION WILL IMPROVE VISITOR CONDITIONS, INCREASING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THIS COLLABORATIVE COASTAL RESTORATION PROJECT WILL RESTORE INTERTIDAL CONNECTIVITY TO CREATE A MORE RESILIENT ECOSYSTEM TO THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES LED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WETLANDS COURSE OF ACTION FOR THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY RECOVERY PLAN, WHICH PRIORITIZED INTERVENTIONS TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE WETLAND FUNCTIONS AT VARIOUS WETLANDS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDED ACTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE PUNTA TUNA WETLANDS.

CONTINUE IMPLEMENTATION OF NOAA???S HABITAT BLUEPRINT FOCUS AREA PRIORITY ACTIONS IN CULEBRA ISLAND, PUERTO RICO TO RESTORE CORAL REEF CRITICAL HABITAT

FOREST STEWARDSHIP MANAGEMENT AND HABITAT RESTORATION IN PUERTO RICO

POST-HURRICANE LANDSCAPE STEWARDSHIP MANAGEMENT PLAN

BUILDING RESILIENCY IN THE PUERTO RICO NORTHEAST RESERVES BY REDUCING RECREATIONAL IMPACTS, ADDRESSING LAND-BASED SOURCES OF POLLUTION (LBSPS), AND R

CONTINUA IMPLEMENTATION OF NOAAS HABITAT BLUEPRINT FOCUS AREA PRIORITY ACTIONS IN CULEBRA ISLAND, PUERTO RICO TO RESTORE CRITICAL REEF HABITAT

IMPLEMENTATION OF NOAA???S HABITAT BLUEPRINT FOCUS AREA PRIORITY ACTIONS IN CULEBRA ISLAND, PUERTO RICO TO RESTORE CORAL REEFS CRITICAL HABITAT

ENHANCING HABITAT CONNECTIVITY IN SUBTROPICAL DRY FORESTS IN PUERTO RICO

TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR LANOWNERS IN SOUTHEAST PUERTO RICO, FOCUSING ON CONSERVATION ACTIONS THAT IMPROVE ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION AND HEALTH CONSIDERING PROJECTED CLIMATE

RCDI PUERTO RICO DAF

LANDSCAPE SCALE WILDFIRE PREVENTION PLANNING FOR SOUTHERN PUERTO RICO PROJECT

FOREST FIRE PREVENTION IN FIRE PRONE LANDSCAPES IN PUERTO RICO

FOREST FIRE PREVENTION IN FIRE PRONE LANDSCAPES IN PUERTO RICO - PHAS II

STREAM CROSSING STRUCTURE DATABASE

THIS PROJECT WILL EVALUATE 27 MARINE PROTECTED AREAS (MPA) LOCATED WITHIN PUERTO RICO. IN A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS (PDC) PROPOSES TO COLLABORATE WITH THE PUERTO RICO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES (PRDNER) TO ADDRESS PRIORITIES 1 AND 2 DEVELOPED BY THE PRDNER, WHICH ARE TO ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN CAPACITY FOR THE DNER RANGER CORPS, AND TO WORK WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT AND UPDATE MPA PLANS. AFTER CONSOLIDATING AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON EACH MPA, CONDUCTING SITE VISITS, AND ASSESSING ASSOCIATED SUB-WATERSHEDS, PDC WILL HOLD SIX ROUNDTABLE MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THE PRDNER AND PRDNER RANGER CORPS, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA), MUNICIPALITIES, MPA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES, LOCAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS), AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. THESE MEETINGS WILL BE USED TO SHARE RESULTS OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW, IDENTIFY THE MAIN THREATS, DETERMINE NEEDS, AND RECOMMEND ACTIONS TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT IN EACH MPA. IN

FOREST FIRE PREVENTION AND NATIVE FOREST REGENERATION IN GUANICA, PUERTO RI

HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT IN LAGUNA CARTAGENA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, LAJAS, PR

REPAIRS OF PRIMARY ROAD TO THE LAGUNA CARTAGENA NWR

THE YELLOW-SHOULDERED BLACKBIRD (AGELAIUS XANTHOMUS) IS AN ENDEMIC SPECIES OF PUERTO RICO, FOUND MAINLY IN THE SOUTHWESTERN REGION OF THE ISLAND. THE SPECIES HAS BEEN LISTED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT SINCE 1976 DUE TO HABITAT LOSS AND DEGRADATION CAUSED MAINLY BY CATTLE FARMING, AGRICULTURE, AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT. THE SIERRA BERMEJA AND PITAHAYA ZONE IN CABO ROJO IS AN ECOLOGICALLY VALUABLE AREA, AS IT CONTAINS SUITABLE HABITAT FOR THIS SPECIES. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS PROPOSES TO COLLABORATE WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO ADVANCE RECOVERY ACTIONS FOR THE YELLOW-SHOULDERED BLACKBIRD. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS WILL CONDUCT TASKS TO COMPLETE TWO MAIN GOALS: 1) ENGAGE 2-4 PRIVATE LANDOWNERS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANDOWNER AGREEMENTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FORESTED CORRIDORS BY THE PLANTING OF NATIVE TREE SHRUB SPECIES THUS INCREASING IMPORTANT NESTING AND FORAGING HABITAT FOR THE YELLOW-SHOULDERED BLACKBIRD AND 2) ENHANCE HABITAT CONDITION, CONNECTIVITY, AND RESILIENCE BY IMPLEMENTING CONSERVATION PRACTICES (E.G., EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL, FIREBREAKS).

REDUCE ROAD EROSION OCCURRING WITHIN TWO COFFEE FARMS OF THE RGA WATERSHED IN ORDER TO TEST BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO REPLICATE IN THE CB.

THROUGH A SIX MONTH PERIOD PDC WILL RECONDITION AND REPAIR THE GREENHOUSE FACILITIES IN THE CABO ROJO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WHICH IS USED TO PRODUCE NATIVE PLANT SPECIES USE IN LOCAL RESTORATION PROJECTS. PROJECT TASKS WILL INCLUDE THE INSPECTION OF THE EXISTING SOLAR PV SYSTEM BY A CERTIFIED ELECTRICIAN OR SYSTEM SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND REPLACING THE COMPONENTS OF THAT SYSTEM AS NECESSARY. ALL TASKS WILL BE COMPLETED IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE STAFF FROM THE CABO ROJO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. FWS STAFF WILL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT IN THIS PROJECT BY ASSIGNING A PROJECT OFFICER APPROVING RECIPIENT PLANS PRIOR TO AWARD REVIEWING AND APPROVING REPORTS REVIEWING AND APPROVING STAGES OF THE REHABILITATION OF THE GREENHOUSES WITH THE AUTHORITY TO IMMEDIATELY STOP WORK CONDUCTING SITE VISITS TO ROUTINELY MONITORING OF THE PROJECT TO ENSURE PROJECT COMPLIANCE. RECIPIENT COMPLIANCE WITH ALL REFUGE REGULATIONS WILL BE MONITORED BY REFUGE MANAGER.

PROPAGATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW POPULATIONS OF ENDANGERED EUGENIA WOODBURYANA AND THREATENED STAHLIA MONOSPERMA

PALMAS POND WETLANDS IN SOUTHEAST PUERTO RICO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN AREA IN NEED OF RESTORATION DUE TO THEIR IMPORTANCE AS HABITAT FOR NATIVE AND MIGRATORY WATERFOWL AND ITS DESIGNATION AS A CRITICAL WILDLIFE AREA THIS AREA WAS ONCE USED TO PROMOTE HUNTING AND SPORT FISH ACTIVITIES HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN DEGRADED BY WEEDY SPECIES AND POSSIBLY HYDROLOGICAL DISRUPTIONS PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS PDC INTENDS TO COMPLETE THE PLANNING PHASE FOR THE INTERVENTION OF PALMAS POND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES 1 COORDINATE WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO DISCUSS PROJECT PLANS AND OPPORTUNITIES 2 CONDUCT A HYDROLOGIC AND HYDRAULIC HAND H STUDY AND A HYDROLOGICAL ANALYSIS 3 ASSESS THE PRESENCE OF INVASIVE SPECIES AND RECOMMEND ACTIONS TO CONTROL THEM 4 DEVELOP A PRELIMINARY SCHEMATIC DESIGN AND 5 COMPLETE THE PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING AND COMPLIANCE THE TARGETED CONSERVATION AREAS PROVIDE AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND HABITAT FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES, INCLUDING RESIDENT AND MIGRATORY BIRDS IN ADDITION, THIS PROJECT BUILDS UPON AN ONGOING COASTAL PROGRAM FUNDED PROJECT WITH PDC TO RESTORE COASTAL AND WETLANDS ECOSYSTEMS WITHIN THE NORTHEAST ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR NATURE RESERVE OF PUERTO RICO THIS PROJECT WILL BENEFIT THE FIVE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS OF THE WETLANDS BY PREPARING FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE IMPORTANT WETLAND ECOSYSTEM, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO FUNCTION AS PART OF AN ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR AMONG WETLANDS PDC ALSO EXPECTS THE RESTORATION ACTIVITIES TO BRING BACK NATIVE SPECIES AND THEREFORE ENHANCE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUNTERS, ANGLERS, AND OTHER OUTDOOR INTERESTS THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT ARE 1 ENGAGE A TOTAL OF FIVE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS SURROUNDING PALMAS POND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RESTORATION OF THE PALMAS PALMS WETLANDS 2 IMPROVE PALMAS POND WETLAND HEALTH AND RESILIENCY THROUGH INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT AND THE RESTORATION OF NATIVE VEGETATION AND 3 IMPROVE THE HABITATS OF THREATENED AND ESA LISTED SPECIES

SUPPORT RESTORATION AND REFORESTATION EFFORTS ACROSS PUERTO RICO, INCLUDING VIEQUES AND CULEBRA, AND ALIGN WITH PRIORITIES SUCH AS ACTIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT, RECREATION, AND WILDFIRE HAZARD REDUCTION. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO ENSURE A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF NATIVE PLANT MATERIAL AFTER EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, SUPPORTING ONGOING AND FUTURE RESTORATION EFFORTS ACROSS PUERTO RICO. ALSO PLANS A COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AT THE NURSERY AND SEED BANK TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF NATIVE TREE PLANTING.

COASTAL AND WETLAND RESTORATION IN TWO PRIORITY AREAS OF THE NORTHEAST ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR NATURE RESERVE, PUERTO RICO (PHASE I)

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT TESTING BIOCHAR AS A SOIL AMENDMENT IN PUERTO RICO, AND EVALUATE THE EFFEC TIVENESS OF BIOCHAR MADE FROM INVASIVE BAMBOO AND VEGETATION DEBRIS AS SOIL AMENDMENTS TO GROW NATIVE TREES FOR USE IN COLLABORATIVE REFORESTATION EFFORTS.

RESTORATION OF WETLANDS IN PUERTO RICO

ADDRESSING LAND-BASED SOURCES OF POLLUTION AFFECTING ENLISTED CORAL SPECIES IN GU??NICA, PUERTO RICO

BUILDING RESILIENCY AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN FOR THE MARINE EXTENSION OF THE GUANICA STATE FOREST

EXPANDING WATERSHED ASSESSMENT EFFORTS IN RÍO AÑASCO WATERSHED

TO CONDUCT WATERSHED ASSESSMENTS AND RECOMMEND RESTORATION POJECTS TO ADDRESS WATER QUALITY THREATS FROM LAND-BASED SOURCES OF POLLUTION.

TO CONDUCT WATERSHED ASSESSMENTS AND RECOMMEND RESTORATION POJECTS TO ADDRESS WATER QUALITY THREATS FROM LAND-BASED POLLUTION.

STREAM CONNECTIVITY INITIATIVE

RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF WETLAND HYDROLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY AT THE JOBOS BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEACH RESERVE & RESTORATION OF BREEDING HABITAT FOR THE P

ADDRESSING LAND BASED SOURCES OF POLLUTION AND RESTORING REEFS THROUGH CORAL FARMING IN CULEBRA, PUERTO RICO

BENTHIC COMMUNITY STRUCTURE CHARACTERIZATION AND ASSESSMENT OF TURBIDITY IMPACTS OF THE NORTH (MANAT?? AND VEGA BAJA) AND SOUTH (GU??NICA) COASTS, PU

THE PUERTO RICAN PARROT (AMAZONA VITTATA) IS A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES ENDEMIC TO PUERTO RICO. DUE TO HIGH MORTALITY AND LOW REPRODUCTION RATES, THE PUERTO RICAN PARROT POPULATIONS HAVE NOT RECOVERED NATURALLY AND ARE IN A LOCAL RECOVERY PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE NUMBER AND SIZES OF WILD POPULATIONS. A MAJOR CAUSE OF MORTALITY FOR PARROTS THAT ARE RELEASED FROM CAPTIVITY IS PREDATION BY THE RED-TAILED HAWK (BUTEO JAMAICENSIS), A WIDESPREAD TOP PREDATOR FOUND ACROSS PUERTO RICO. TO INCREASE POPULATIONS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REDUCE MORTALITY FROM PREDATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN ESTABLISHING A NEW POPULATION WITHOUT A CORE WILD PARROT POPULATION. IN THE MARICAO COMMONWEALTH FOREST, THERE ARE CURRENTLY 29 WILD PUERTO RICAN PARROTS, WITH EIGHT ACTIVE NESTS AND FOUR HATCHLINGS. HOWEVER, THE RECOVERY POTENTIAL OF THIS POPULATION IS REDUCED DUE TO HEAVY PREDATION BY RED-TAILED HAWKS. IN ORDER TO INCREASE RECOVERY POTENTIAL OF THIS POPULATION, THE USFWS PROPOSES TO INCREASE EFFORTS TO CONTROL PREDATION BY RED-TAILED HAWKS FROM DECEMBER TO FEBRUARY AND MAY TO JULY, THE TWO PERIODS OF TIME DURING THE YEAR WHEN PREDATION BY THIS HAWK IS MORE ACTIVE IN MARICAO. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS INC. PROPOSES TO SUPPORT THE USFWS IN THESE EFFORTS DURING A TWO-YEAR PERIOD BY SUBCONTRACTING TWO STUDENT INTERNS TO IMPLEMENT CONTROL EFFORTS ON THE RED-TAILED HAWK IN THE MARICAO COMMONWEALTH FOREST.

COASTAL AND WETLAND RESTORATION OF EL PAPAYOLAGOON IN LAJAS, PUERTO RICO.

F18AC00184

TO HELP IDENTIFY PRIVATE LANDOWNERS WILLING TO IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON THEIR LANDS.

COASTAL HABITAT RESTORATION IN GUANICA, PR

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE CULEBRA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND THE CARIBBEAN ECOLOGICAL SERVICES FIELD OFFICE IN ITS MISSION TO RESTORE APPROXIMATELY 30 ACRES OF COASTAL HABITAT CRITICAL FOR THE CONSERVATION OF SEA TURTLE SPECIES. THE COASTAL HABITATS THAT SUPPORT SEA TURTLE NESTING ARE DEGRADED DUE TO INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES WHICH THREATENS NATIVE FLORA AND CREATES UNSUITABLE NESTING CONDITIONS. PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS WILL FOCUS ON REMOVING SCAEVOLA SERICEA USING THE PRACTICES OUTLINED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IFAS EXTENSION AND USED BY THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION. NATIVE COASTAL VEGETATION WILL BE PLANTED FOLLOWING INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL. THIS WILL INCLUDE SPECIES WHICH ARE MORE SUITED TO THE SANDY ENVIRONMENTS OF CULEBRA BEACHES. THIS EFFORT WILL ENHANCE THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE DUNE ECOSYSTEM AND FOSTER A MORE FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR NESTING SEA TURTLES.A MONITORING PROGRAM WILL ALSO BE IMPLEMENTED FOR THREE FEDERALLY LISTED SEA TURTLE SPECIES DURING THEIR NESTING SEASON FROM MARCH TO AUGUST. THIS TIMEFRAME WILL ENSURE NEST PROTECTION AND MITIGATE HUMAN DISTURBANCE. PROTECTORES DE CUENCAS WILL WORK WITH THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO COLLECT SYSTEMATIC DATA INCLUDING NESTING SUCCESS AND HATCHLING SURVIVAL RATES FOR LONG TERM RECOVERY EFFORTS. ALL ACTIONS WILL FOLLOW THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND PUERTO RICO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES SEA TURTLE PROTOCOLS AND CONSERVATION MEASURES.

F18AC00738

COASTAL HABITAT RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION IN PUNTA SOLDADO, CULEBRA ISLAND, PUERTO RICO

LANDSCAPE HABITAT RESTORATION INITIATIVE IN PRIVATE LANDS OF CULEBRA PUERTO RICO

F18AC00598

NO-COST EXTENSION

NO-COST EXTENSION