FEMA FUNDS PROMOTE THE STUDY OF PUERTO RICO’S ECOSYSTEM
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240318/fema-funds-promote-study-puerto-ricos-ecosystem]


Release Date: 
mars 17, 2024 

_The agency awarded funds to the Jobos Bay Natural Reserve and the
Cambalache Species Refuge_

GUAYNABO, PUERTO RICO – The Department of Natural and Environmental
Resources’ (DNER) Jobos Bay, located between the municipalities of
Salinas and Guayama, is much more than a nature reserve where flora
and fauna coexist in harmony. It is the only national estuarine
research reserve in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, and one of only 30
in the United States and its territories, according to the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

The strong winds of Hurricane María destabilized the ecological
balance of the reserve, but time and nature's own regenerative power
helped it resurge. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has
complemented this effort by allocating over $462,000 to the DNER to
repair structures and technology that support the mission of this
research center. 

“Aside from being an eco-tourism destination, Jobos Bay contributes
to the management and conservation of the nation's network of
estuarine reserves. This funding allocation helps the reserve improve
its facilities and acquire the necessary equipment to continue its
scientific and educational mission,” said FEMA Federal Disaster
Recovery Coordinator José G. Baquero.

The reserve has a dual function: it is a scientific research
laboratory and a wildlife monitoring center. Aitza E. Pabón
Valentín, director and manager of the Jobos Bay National Reserve and
Estuarine Research, said that they study changes in vegetation, the
behavior of endemic species and phenomena related to climate change.

“We have a station that we call the sentinel. From there, we measure
ground pressure, water inflow and changes in vegetation every month.
The theory is — and one can already see it — that the habitats are
migrating inland. That is, the mangrove forest is moving inland as the
sea level rises. We are quantifying that effect of climate change,”
said Pabón Valentín.

The facilities also have an educational function aimed at the
conservation of the reserve's marine and terrestrial ecosystems, which
is undertaken in collaboration with local and federal agencies,
schools, universities and community groups.

“We have several ongoing scientific investigations. One student is
working on her doctoral work with the populations of Cassiopeas, which
are marine jellyfish. We have work that the Natural Resources
Conservation Service of the Department of Agriculture is doing on the
seafloor census and others related to sea weeds, and we are monitoring
migratory and local birds,” the director said. 

Meanwhile, the training coordinator of the DNER’s coastal program
and environmental scientist Jimmy Peña added that, in addition to
studying phenomena related to climate change, the reserve also has a
function aimed at rehabilitating the estuary.

“Although people and tourism are welcome, (the reserve) is based on
research. We develop mangrove growth scientifically, that's why we
have the different stages of mangrove development,” Peña said.
“The juvenile mangroves are being used to restore the coast of Mata
la Gata Island, but also to restore other places.” To date they have
planted more than 4,000 juvenile mangrove trees.      

The reserve’s Visitors Center is located in what was once the
Aguirre Sugar Plantation Clubhouse and currently serves as a
laboratory where field samples obtained from the bay are analyzed.
Meanwhile, the cultural activities center was built in the old Aguirre
train station. 

FEMA’s allocation contemplates repairing the walls and roofs of both
buildings, as well as the observation towers, wooden gazebos and a
boardwalk. The Wi-Fi antennas, which are vital for the collection and
dissemination of investigative data, will also be repaired.

Moreover, the agency also allocated over $509,000 to repair the
Cambalache Species Refuge, a detention center located in Arecibo that
houses exotic animals brought illegally to Puerto Rico. The shelter
currently houses different types of mammals, reptiles — including
alligators, crocodiles and snakes — and several species of birds. 
 

Repairs scheduled for the Species Refuge include work on the main
office, repair of electrical infrastructure, and replacement of
fixtures and the water cistern. Several species cages will also be
repaired and replaced, including the reptile terrarium and the bird
and mammal cages. 

The two DNER projects have hazard mitigation funds: over $127,000 for
the Jobos Bay Estuarine Research Center and nearly $47,000 for the
Cambalache Species Refuge, to address water infiltration problems in
the roofs, doors and windows, and to add additional protection to the
electrical systems. 

Meanwhile, the executive director of the Central Office for Recovery,
Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), Manuel A. Laboy Rivera, said
that “DNER’s permanent works are important and very particular
because they are aimed at restoring facilities that seek to preserve
natural resources for scientific purposes or for the use and enjoyment
of the people, as is the case of these projects to which FEMA
allocated funds. Currently, the DNER has 155 projects in design
acquisition process, design or construction bidding, with investments
totaling $90.8 million. We will continue to support the DNER
throughout the required process for these projects in Salinas and
Guayama to begin development soon.”

To date, FEMA has allocated over $32.4 billion for more than 10,900
projects that will address damages following Hurricane María. Of
these, the DNER has nearly $152 million from the agency for permanent
works to repair its infrastructure.

For more information about Puerto Rico’s
recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4339
[https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4339], fema.gov/disaster/4473
[https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4473] and recovery.pr
[https://recovery.pr.gov/en]. Follow us on our social media
at Facebook.com/FEMAPuertoRico
[http://www.facebook.com/femapuertorico], Facebook.com/COR3pr
[http://www.facebook.com/cor3pr] and Twitter @COR3pr
[https://twitter.com/cor3pr].

JOBOS BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE, SALINAS, PR

 [View of plant beds in the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research
Reserve] 
SALINAS, PUERTO RICO (March 1, 2024) – The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) allocated over $462,000 to the PR Department
of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) to repair structures and
technology that support the mission of the Jobos Bay National
Estuarine Research Reserve. Photo FEMA/Eliezer Hernández

JOBOS BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE, SALINAS, PR

 [Inside view if the Jobos Bay is the only national estuarine research
reserve and its auditorium.] 
SALINAS, PUERTO RICO (March 1, 2024) – The Jobos Bay is the only
national estuarine research reserve in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean,
and one of only 30 in the United States and its territories, according
to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The
facilities also have an educational function aimed at the conservation
of the reserve's marine and terrestrial ecosystems, which is
undertaken in collaboration with local and federal agencies, schools,
universities and community groups. Photo FEMA/Eliezer Hernández