The Rainforest is a beautiful thing, we need to conserve it
Here are the main environmental issues we address on our Eco-Tour. Read on if you want to Learn more about them...
Endangered Species:
The Puerto Rican Amazon, also known as the Puerto Rican Parrot, is one of the most beautiful birds in all of Puerto Rico. It is also the closet to coming extinct. The estimated population is between 34-40. The cause of its critical endangerment levels are mainly due to the increased human activity in the area. Due to the deforestation of Puerto Rico, many species, including the Puerto Rican Parrot, are being threatened. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo halved the population of this creature. If it becomes extinct, natural predators will lose a food source. These predators consist of various birds such as Red Tailed Hawk. This species of bird is one of the top ten rarest bird species in the world, and would be a terrible loss of it became extinct. With this bird extinct, invasive species such as the Peregrine Falcon. will have more nesting space, a bad thing for this ecosystem. The Puerto Rican Parrot is a vital part of this ecosystem.
Pollution:
El Yunque is under constant threat of pollution due to the problem of habitat loss and destruction due to deforestation. The problem specifically in El Yunque is that this deforestation creates runoff. This runoff then creates pollution of the watersheds and streams of the forest. It creates pollution because while the water is running through the runoff it pulls trash and waste into streams at stream crossings rather than being directly deposited. By installing these crossings over streams and any small body of water, for vehicles and tourism purposes, it pollutes the stream system. It pollutes the system by destroying or altering the flow of water, the channel condition change and/or creating an increase in the water velocity. This all effects the cleanliness of the water for organisms to feed of off and when animals or aquatic animals swim and live in it pollutes their bodies and can possibly lead to death. The Burrow Coquí for example has always lived in a very limited habitat and is dying more significantly because of their health. Because the tend to live in the more head water areas they become very vulnerable to the unhealthy water and end up dying because of this deadly water in their bodies. Overtime and if this pollution continues, many species can die and most likely extremely affect an ecosystem.
Land Development/Degradation:
The land of the El Yunque is very fragile. The development boom in Puerto Rico, coupled with natural factors, is degrading the forest very quickly. When it comes to land development the forest is especially frail. While the central part of the forest is on Forest Service land the areas around it are not. When homes are built and other development happens on the edge of the forest this affects processes in the forest and can also have a negative affect on the amount of rainfall. Urban expansion is on the rise in the so rounding towns and municipalities this development is removing vital forest cover which is having a negative effect on the landscape, Water cycles as well as bodies of water, and nutrient cycles. Zoning laws must be put in place to control the development. Natural processes are also degrading the forest. The massive amount of rain the forest receives can cause flooding and landslides that can cause great destruction in the forest sweeping away many trees and other vegetation including many species of rare trees. This can be controlled by replacing the old soil and vegetation that has been swept away with new soil and trees to lock the soil in place. Land development is an important factor in dictating the fate of the eco-system and it must be controlled.