The MAB Program United States of America
Biosphere Reserve Information - General Description
Luquillo
General Description
Situtated in the Luquillo
Mountains in north-east Puerto Rico, this biosphere reserve comprises a cross
section of the natural environments of Caribbean islands, and are valued by the
public as assets for conservation, recreation, tourism, education, and research.
The forests in the biosphere reserve are classified into four types. Vegetation
in the lower elevations consists of the lower montane rainforest or the
subtropical wet forests with the dominating tabonuco tree (Dacryodes excelsa).
The montane thicket or lower montane forest occupies the gentle slopes above 600
meters elevation with the characteristic Colorado tree (Cyrilla racemiflora).
Sierra palm (Prestoea acuminata) is associated with unstable soils and dwarf
forests occupy the highest elevations.
The Luquillo Experimental Forest is part of a network of the Long-term
Ecological Research (LTER) programme funded by the US National Science
Foundation. Its main goal is to understand the long-term dynamics of tropical
forest ecosystems characterized by large-scale, infrequent disturbance, rapid
processing of organic material, and high habitat and species diversity. The
results are of theoretical interest and contribute to conservation management
goals and understanding of global change. Natural disturbances in the Luquillo
Mountains include hurricanes, landslides, treefalls, droughts, and floods. Human
disturbances, mainly in the past, include road construction, charcoal
production, clearing for pasture and crops, creation of coffee plantations, and
logging.
Last updated: 06/27/2005