NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CAJA DE MUERTOS RESERVE
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20210929/new-opportunity-caja-de-muertos-reserve]


Release Date: 
September 29, 2021 

GUAYNABO, PUERTO RICO – Residents and visitors to the southern area
of Puerto Rico will have a new opportunity to enjoy the iconic Caja de
Muertos Island Nature Reserve. This, thanks to an allocation of over
$1.2 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that
will make repairs possible at the facilities of the small island.

Among the attractions of this protected natural area are the Pelícano
beach and various educational offerings, such as talks or sea turtle
nesting watches. Isla Caja de Muertos, located south of Ponce,
received about 20,000 visitors the year before Hurricane María in
2017. However, after the hurricane the reserve was closed to the
public and visitors are only allowed on the beaches.

“This million-dollar approval will serve to repair the area where
service is provided to visitors, which will facilitate the arrival to
the island and the tour. We remain committed to a holistic recovery
where recreational spaces are revitalized for our island’s
families,” said Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator, José G.
Baquero.

The barracks that house the guards and personnel from the Department
of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), who stay there for
one-week shifts to monitor the reserve's care, will also be repaired.
In addition, part of the funds will be used to replace a photovoltaic
system that will power the facilities.

Other works to be carried out include the replacement of a wooden
fence, the reconstruction of the eco-friendly pavilions (gazebos) and
restrooms, as well as the reconstruction of a platform that will
facilitate access to the beach.

“The current facilities were built in the 1990s, with an
architecture and design that did not consider resilience and
sustainability. The obligation of funds gives us the opportunity to
build facilities that take into consideration our drinking water
limitations, exposure to weather conditions, earthquakes and load
capacity,” said DNER reserve manager María Chardón. 

Chardón added that the reconstruction will have an impact on the
service to tourists, offering them security and a good environmental
experience. She also acknowledged the importance of providing a
renovated camping area for boy and girl scouts and how the repairs
will allow visiting college students to continue their research
projects and internships.

Furthermore, Jeanette Cruz Beltrán, the Caribe Girl Scouts Council
representative, expressed that camping is an experience that provides
a creative and educational opportunity about living outdoors for the
group of girls. “Using the resources from the Girl Scouts program,
its trained leadership and the natural resources of our dear Island of
Enchantment, we contribute to the mental, physical, social and
spiritual growth of each girl and young participant. As stated in our
Law: we always make an effort to use prudently use resources and make
the world a better place,” Said Cruz Beltrán.

Meanwhile, the executive director of the Central Office of Recovery,
Reconstruction and Resilience of Puerto Rico (COR3), engineer Manuel
A. Laboy Rivera, said that the reconstruction project of this space
with great value for nature lovers will give greater resilience to the
infrastructure reducing the possibility of significant damage to the
onslaught of a new atmospheric phenomenon. “At COR3 we will offer
the necessary technical assistance to the DNER in the development of
this project that adds value to the southern part of the island,”
Laboy Rivera added.

To access more information on the recovery of Puerto Rico from
Hurricane María, visit fema.gov/disaster/4339
[http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4339] and recuperacion.pr
[http://www.recuperacion.pr/]. Follow us on 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].

 [Caja de Muertos Island Nature Reserve - aerial view of Caja de
Muertos Island ] 
 

PONCE, PUERTO RICO (Sept. 9, 2021) – Residents and visitors to the
southern area of Puerto Rico will have a new opportunity to enjoy the
iconic Caja de Muertos Island Nature Reserve thanks to an allocation
of over $1.2 million from FEMA. Photo FEMA/Eliezer Hernández

 [Caja de Muertos View 2 - aerial view of group of stuctures with tile
roofs] 
 

PONCE, PUERTO RICO (Sept. 9, 2021) – The barracks that house the
guards and personnel from the Department of Natural and Environmental
Resources (DNER), who stay there for one-week shifts to monitor the
reserve's care, will also be repaired. Photo FEMA/Juan Andrés Muñoz
Torres

 [Caja de Muertos Lighthouse - Colonial style lighthouse] 
PONCE, PUERTO RICO (Sept. 9, 2021) – Among the attractions of this
protected natural area are the Pelícano beach and various educational
offerings, such as talks or sea turtle nesting watches. Photo FEMA/
Juan Andrés Muñoz Torres