Puerto rico natural resources map: What Are The Major Natural Resources Of Puerto Rico?

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20 апреля, 2023
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What Are The Major Natural Resources Of Puerto Rico?

Cattle are the most important of the livestock kept in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico is a 3,515 square mile nation that is considered to be an unincorporated territory of the United States. Information from the World Bank indicates that in 2016, Puerto Rico’s Gross Domestic Product was valued at approximately $105 billion. Due to the region’s high prosperity, the World Bank considers it to be one of the world’s high-income economies. Several factors contribute to Puerto Rico’s prosperity such as its geographical position and its political relationship to the US. Despite its economic prosperity, Puerto Rico is not considered to have a wealth of natural resources. The government of Puerto Rico has set up an agency, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico, to ensure proper management and utilization of the region’s limited natural resources. The department was established to replace the Department of Natural Resources of Puerto Rico.

Natural Resources of Puerto Rico

Arable Land

Arable land is one of Puerto Rico’s most important natural resources. Despite its importance, only 6% of the region’s total area is considered arable. Experts believe that the low amount of arable land could pose a huge challenge to attaining food security. To ensure constant food security, the Puerto Rican government is forced to import vast quantities of food each year. Some of the main crops grown in the region include avocados, mangos, and grapefruits. According to official government records, the agricultural sector in Puerto Rico accounts for slightly less than 1% of the region’s gross domestic product. Some estimates indicate that in 2013, agriculture contributed close to $808,000,000 to the gross domestic product.

Puerto Rico faces some challenges in achieving full utilization of its agricultural potential such as a low number of people willing to work in the agricultural sector as well as poor agricultural practices. The sectors’ insufficient workforce has been attributed to some factors such as the increased emphasis on industrial jobs as well as unwillingness in the Puerto Rican youth to work in the agricultural sector. Some studies indicate that the main agricultural workforce in Puerto Rico, roughly 65% according to some figures, is comprised of people who are over 55 years old. Puerto Rico’s agricultural industry is also adversely affected by the constant hurricanes in the region. Experts believe that if the present challenges are addressed, Puerto Rican agriculture could satisfy as much as 30% of the local agricultural demand.

Livestock

Another of Puerto Rico’s significant natural resources is the livestock. Some of the most commonly kept animals in the region include pigs, rabbits, cattle, horses, and donkeys. Even though donkeys, mules, and horses are widespread on the island, the locals do not consume them due to cultural taboos. Cattle are the most important of the livestock kept in Puerto Rico since it supplies the locals with both meat and milk. Puerto Rico’s milk industry is one of the island’s most essential industries as the island is considered to be relatively self-sufficient regarding milk production. There are a couple of milk processing factories on the island with the most prominent ones being Tres Monjitas and Suiza Dairy. Poultry keeping is also important in Puerto Rico with some of the most commonly kept birds being ducks, quails, and chickens. The livestock industry in Puerto Rico faces some challenges chief among them being the constant devastating hurricanes experienced in the area.

Fish

Fish is one of Puerto Rico’s most important natural resources due to its location in the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the main fish species consumed by the Puerto Rican people include tuna, trunkfish, marlin, and snapper.

Despite its importance, experts believe that the natural fisheries around the island cannot support a profitable fishing sector. The US government has set up an agency, the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, to manage Puerto Rico’s fish resources. The government also allocates vast quantities of money to the Puerto Rican fishing sector to improve the industry. In 2018, according to an article in the Maritime Herald, $11.4 million was set aside for the Puerto Rican fishing sector.

Minerals

Different types of minerals can be found in Puerto Rico such as gold, copper, molybdenum, and silver. Despite the presence of valuable metal minerals in Puerto Rico, the deposits are not considered economically viable. A study carried out in 1998 estimated that the value of Puerto Rico’s nonfuel minerals was approximately $252 million. At the time, the value of Puerto Rico’s nonfuel minerals was the 39^th highest in the US. Some of the essential nonfuel minerals at the time included Portland cement, sand, gravel, and crushed stone.

A recent study by the US government indicates that there are deposits of natural gas as well as oil off Puerto Rico’s coast. The study was unable to determine if the oil and gas in Puerto Rico could be economically viable. The mining industry in the region faces some significant challenges such as insignificant urban planning as well as the poor management of the local terrain.

Beautiful Scenery

The island’s natural scenery is one of Puerto Rico’s most important natural resources. Puerto Rico’s natural beauty attracts huge numbers of visitors most of whom are from the US. Apart from American citizens, most of the visitors to Puerto Rico are from nations such as Britain, France, Spain, and Mexico. Some of the most popular tourist attraction sites in Puerto Rico include Flamenco Beach and the city of Old San Juan.

Economy of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s economy faces some significant challenges such as an extremely high public debt, which is valued at 103% of the gross national product, and an extremely high budget deficit of approximately $2.5 billion. Puerto Rico’s economy has been experiencing depression for roughly 12 years that began in 2006. Experts believe that Puerto Rico’s economic downturn has been caused by some factors such as the highly political nature of its public policy as well as mismanagement by the local government.

Joseph Kiprop December 12 2018 in Economics

Puerto Rico Natural Protected Areas (December 2016 Inventory)

This GIS file provides the latest compilation (as of the 23 of December of 2016) of the natural protected areas of Puerto Rico. Natural protected areas are geographic spaces clearly defined and delimited through legal or other effective means for the long-term conservation of their natural resources, biodiversity, ecosystem services and associated cultural values. This dataset includes all protected areas owned and managed or co-managed for the conservation of nature and natural resources by the following agencies and organizations: Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), Para la Naturaleza, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Fundación Casa Pueblo, Tropic Ventures Education and Research Foundation, Ciudadanos del Karso, University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico National Parks Program, Luis Muñoz Marin Foundation, and Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña.

This version also includes the Karst Conservation Zone, an area of high ecological value with a strong legal foundation to protect the natural resources inside public and private lands within this zone. The protection and conservation of the Puerto Rico’s karstic area is mandated by Act 292 of August 21 of 1999, which commissions the identification of lands that should be restricted from commercial mining activities and other intensive uses. The restricted area was identified in DNER 2008 Karst Study and is also a DNER Priority Conservation Area, which prioritizes the acquisition of high ecological value land through mitigations, donations and land transfers from other government agencies. The Karst Conservation Zone included in this file is within the restricted area and represent lands zoned for conservation purposes within the Plan and Rules for the Karst Special Planning Area (PRAPEC) from 2013. Established land use rules explicitly prohibit mining and landfills within public and private lands, promote terrace cultivation and other sustainable agricultural practices as well as reforestation projects in order to protect and conserve the natural resources, water quality, and the delivery of ecosystem services within the karst restricted zone.

The 2016 Protected Areas of Puerto Rico inventory includes the following updates:

New from Para La Naturaleza:

1. Área Natural Protegida Rio Bairoa
2. Área Natural Protegida La Pitahaya
3. Área Natural Protegida Los Llanos
4. Área Natural Protegida Cerro La Tuna
5. Área Natural Protegida Rio Toa Vaca
6. Área Natural Protegida Hacienda Lago
7. Área Natural Protegida Freddie Ramírez
8. Área Natural Protegida Hacienda Pellejas

New from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources:

9. Reserva Natural Playa Grande El Paraíso—DRNA
10. Ext. Marina R.N. Playa Larga El Paraíso—DRNA

Updated boundaries

Para La Naturaleza:

1. Área Natural Protegida Medio Mundo y Daguao
2. Área Natural Protegida Hacienda Buena Vista—absorbs Marueño
3. Área Natural Protegida Río Encantado
4. Área Natural Protegida Cañón San Cristóbal

Department of Natural and Environmental Resources:

5. Reserva Natural Planadas — Yeyesa—DRNA
6. Finca Nolla—DRNA

Overlap conflicts were identfied by the PACAT and reported to the agencies for revision. They are identified as overlap areas in this dataset and are not double counted. These are:

1. Área Natural Protegida Hacienda Pellejassmall overlap with Bosque del Pueblo de Adjuntas
2. Planadas Yeyesasmall overlap with Piedras del Collado

Changes in the name or other attributes of existing protected areas:

Servidumbre de Conservación Reserva Natural Punta Ballenas—Is part of multiple designations. Local designation changes to reflect this: Bosque Estatal / Reserva Natural / Servidumbre de Conservación (state forest, natural reserve, easement)
Refugio de Vida Silvestre (RVS) Iris Alameda de Boquerón — B.E. de Boquerón—Is a natural reserve and part of the Boqueron State Forest
Reserva Natural Cayo Ratones — B. E. de Boquerón—Is a natural reserve and part of the Boqueron State Forest
Área Natural Protegida Marueño—boundary change plus changes name to be part of Hacienda Buena Vista
Área Natural Protegida Pedro Marrero name change to Área Natural Protegida Río Sana Muerto
Servidumbre de Conservación Don Ingenio name change to Área Natural Protegida Río Toro Negro
Guayama Experimental Forest name change to Guayama Research Area
Manati Experimental Forest name change to Manati Research Area
Área Natural Protegida Finca Jájome name change to Área Natural Protegida Jájome
Área Natural Protegida Sendra name change to Área Natural Protegida Hermanas Sendra
Finca Los Frailes name change to Área Natural Protegida Los Frailes
Finca Shapiro name change to Área Natural Protegida Shapiro
Área Natural Protegida Río Toa Vaca name change to Área Natural Protegida Toa Vaca

This version also includes fixes to small overlaps (slivers) between Seven Seas, Northeast Ecological Corridor, marine extent of the Northeast Ecological Corridor, and Cabezas de San Juan marine extent.

The attribute table provides the following information about each protected area: name of the protected areas, management agency(s) or entity, land ownership, year established or acquired, local designation(s), whether the protected area is terrestrial or marine, GIS calculated area in hectares and acres, source of the data, and additional notes.

The polygons in this file may not represent legal boundaries or may not be up to date. Protected areas are very dynamic, with new areas in the process of designation and/or delimitation. This file will be regularly updated as new protected areas emerge and old boundaries are updated. The boundaries represent the most recent information available as of December of 2016. This version of the protected areas shapefile was last updated on the 23 of December of 2016. This file is the product of a collaborative effort through the Caribbean Landscape Conservation Cooperative (CLCC) Protected Areas Conservation Action Team (PA-CAT), which aims to compile, analyze and improve protected areas data for Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands, identifying actions to improve the protected areas network and data sharing protocols of both countries. For more information please visit: <http://caribbeanlcc.org/>

Suggested citation: Caribbean Landscape Conservation Cooperative. 2016. Puerto Rico Protected Areas Database [version of December, 2016]. GIS data. San Juan, PR.

Puerto Rico Neighborhoods Puerto Rico View Neighborhoods (10)

Traveler’s Choice

Things to do are ordered according to Tripadvisor, including reviews, ratings, photos and popularity.
Traveler Rating

Top Tripadvisor Traveler-rated Attractions

All Attractions

005

purchases

Transport

Resources for travelers

Types of attractions

Nature and parks

attractions and cultural facilities

Boat tours and water sports

Night

Entertainment and Games

9000 9000 9000 Workshops and seminars

Water and amusement parks

Casinos and gambling

Zoos and aquariums

Nature and parks

Ponds

Travelers Estimates

and more than
9000
and more Suitable for
- Inexpensive
- Free admission
- Suitable for children
- Suitable for large groups
- Suitable for pairs
- Place for a honey month
- Suitable for lovers of adrenaline
  
  ,0005,000 9000 9000
- Adventure
- Things to do on a rainy day
670 places (sorted by popularity among travelers)

Clear all filters
1. El Yunque National Forest

Natural and protected zones • Forest
- 9000 9000 2 General Flazho)
  
  beaches
  
  Open
  3. Bioluminescent Mosquito
  
  Ponds
  
  Openly opened
  
  005
  16. Balneario Sun Bay
  17. Playa Ocean Park
  18. Playa Tamarindo
  
  Beaches
  
  Open now
  19. Isla de Caja de Muertos
  
  9004 9002 Islands0003
20. Pinones

districts • Forests
21. Sandy Beach
9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000
Beaches

Beaches

0005

Beautiful nature

It’s beautiful there, but it’s better not to come without a car. In the forest there are waterfalls (where you can swim) and an observation tower, cliffs (where beautiful views open). Admission is free. One waterfall is la coca, and the 2nd is la mina, it is 40 minutes walk from the road, as it is written on the sign, but I got there faster! Between the waterfalls is a yokahu tower. In general, the place is impressive.

Review for: El Yunque National Forest

Posted November 21, 2016

This review reflects the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.
Ekaterina S

Moscow, Russia116 publications

Beautiful beach

Clean beach with beautiful blue water. To the west of Flamenco Beach is an area that was used for joint military exercises by the US Navy and US Marines until 1975. Many military vehicles, including tanks, remained here as exhibits in the open. Some of the tanks are decorated with colorful graffiti and create a unique landscape against the backdrop of a tropical beach.

Review for: Playa Flamenco

Published December 26, 2016

This review reflects the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.
Tatyana G

Russia341 publication

Vieques

Vacationers on the island of Vieques are advised to visit an excursion to Mosquito Bay, canoeing with luminous fish. This night entertainment may seem quite extreme. But coming here from the main island of Puerto Rico just for the sake of this excursion is definitely not worth it.

Review for: Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay

Published August 3, 2016

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.
Tatyana G

Russia341 publication

Blue Beach

Blue Beach was recommended to us by the hotel and we did not regret that we went there and spent half a day there. This beach is quite secluded, very few people. The day was a bit overcast, with occasional drizzling rain, then the sun came out again, but the water in any light looked amazingly bright, turquoise. On the right side of the beach, where the stones begin, there is very good snorkeling.

Review for: Playa La Chiva

Published August 3, 2016

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.
Maria L

Moscow, Russia 232 publications

Beach for a comfortable stay

We were advised to go here at a hotel in Aguada, the beach is equipped, the sand is soft, there are not many people, you can find a place to sunbathe on your towels / sunbeds.

Review for: Playa Crashboat

Posted April 16, 2015

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.
Maria N.

Moscow, Russia11,719 publications

Interesting. I definitely advise.

We arrived here by car using a navigator. Local craftsmen-businessmen cleared the area for parking, built toilet cubicles and organized a passage to the rocks and caves for $ 5 with a cash nose. Need water — sell. But it is still better to bring food and water with you. A path leads to the rocks — go close. I advise you to wear comfortable shoes with good non-slip soles. Be sure to take your camera and phone. The views are worth it. We did not climb into the caves themselves. Pleasure is doubtful, for extreme people. We managed spectacular seascapes. They are simply unique. If coming from San Juan, be aware of the heavy traffic and add extra traffic time. There are areas with very tight traffic. And you need to come here before 16, when it is still sunny and you can look into the depths of the rock. Then it gets dark.

Review for: Cueva del Indio

Published February 20, 2019

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.
olgaaf2015

Dominican Republic21 publication

Unforgettable Vieques and its magnificent coasts!

Wonderful beach, untouched and far from civilization! The only way to get there is by car, and don’t forget to stock up on food and drink for the day! There is not much in the area in this regard! The island itself, unforgettable and very interesting!

Review for: Playa Caracas

Published August 20, 2015

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.
Maria L

Moscow, Russia232 publications

Luminous fish lagoon

One of the most popular excursions in the area. When it gets dark, we sailed on a boat to the places of accumulation of luminous plankton. They offered to swim, but we were afraid to go down into the water in the dark. But they said it is better to see, because. living creatures begin to glow more when moving. There wasn’t much to see where we were going. It might be more interesting to go on a canoe tour.

Review for: Laguna Grande

Published April 17, 2015

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.
Angelika1969

Portland, Oregon 202 publications

An unforgettable place

From my whole week trip around Puerto Rico, I singled out 2 of the most memorable: Culebre Island and the city of Cabo Rojo with this amazing bay, which is located between the rocks overlooking the lighthouse . I didn’t want to leave because I liked this place so much. I recommend stopping at a salt factory on the way.

Review for: Playa Sucia

Published September 25, 2014

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.
Olesya E

9 publications

Great beach!

Nice cozy place for a relaxing holiday) snorkeled, the underwater world is beautiful, bright fish interesting underwater landscapes) I advise everyone if you are looking for peace and unity with nature)

Review for: Cayo Icacos

Posted August 13, 2014

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.
Katterr

Tyumen, Russia38 publications

Not the best beach

If you have already reached Puerto Rico, you will see that this beach is not the best )) Because of the strong waves, a lot of algae comes ashore.