In Puerto Rico, ongoing economic and population growth is causing widespread urbanization at the expense of valuable forest ecosystems. The community of el Plantio faced this issue when a cherished range of forested hills was threatened by local developers. We assessed the situation through interviews, explored the area to compile scientific arguments for preservation, and surveyed local educators regarding use of the area for educational purposes. Our findings will help the community justify re-zoning the hills as a protected area and suggest educational uses as an alternative to development. With the assistance of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, we used the example of el Plantio to adapt the USFS Wildland-Urban Interface Assessment to a Puerto Rican context.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Levesque, Ian A.
• Mezzone, Christina E.
• Paquette, Alissa M.
• McLaughlin, Brendan J.

Subject

• Sustainability
• Community
• Environment

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-050206-144749

Keyword

• Sustainability
• Wildlife conservation
• Habitat conservation

Advisor

• Peet, R. Creighton
• Garvin, Ann

Year

• 2006

Center

• San Juan, Puerto Rico Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER)

Date created

• 2006-05-02

Location

• Toa Baja

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright