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Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas
Punta Cucharas Nature Reserve
Letrero en la Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas, Bo. Canas, Ponce, Puerto Rico, mirando al sur (DSC02251).jpg
Sign at the entrance to Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas
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Location Barrio Canas,
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Nearest city Ponce
Area Total (Land):
698 cuerdas (678 acres)
Total (Marine):
3,516 cuerdas (3,415 acres)
Las Salinas Lagoon only: 347,898 m2 (86 acres)
Designation 2008
Governing body Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
Fauna and Flora at
Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas
Location Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Established 2008
Named for Coastal geographical formation
Governing body Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
Website Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

The Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas (Punta Cucharas Nature Reserve) is a special nature reserve in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It includes both land and ocean areas. The land part is about 698 acres, and the ocean part is about 3,516 acres. This makes the total area around 4,214 acres.

The reserve is home to different natural environments. These include mangrove forests, sandy dunes along the coast, and a salty lagoon called Laguna Las Salinas. This lagoon covers about 347,898 square meters. The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources helps protect and manage this amazing place.

You can enjoy many activities here, like scuba diving, boating, fishing, and hiking. It's also great for sunbathing, photography, and bird watching. You can even go canoeing! However, some activities are not allowed. These include camping, crabbing, horseback riding, and hunting. Please also leave your pets, ATVs, and campfires at home.

History of Punta Cucharas Reserve

Laguna de las Salinas, Bo. Canas, Ponce, Puerto Rico, vista desde el Hotel Ponce Holiday Inn, mirando al sur (DSC02873)
Laguna de las Salinas, a key feature of Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas

The journey to protect Punta Cucharas began in 2001. The Puerto Rico Ornithology Society suggested it as an important area for birds. From 2003 to 2004, the United States Geological Survey studied the Laguna Las Salinas. The Ponce Municipal Government supported this study.

In 2004, the Natural Patrimony Division of the DRNA reported on the area's natural value. Later, in 2008, a local group called Amigos de La Laguna (Friends of the Lagoon) spoke out. They warned about how a gas pipeline project could harm the lagoon.

Because of these efforts, the Legislature of Puerto Rico passed Law 227 in August 2008. This law officially made Punta Cucharas a nature reserve. On August 9, 2008, it became a protected area by law.

Where is Punta Cucharas and How Big is It?

This special area is located along the coast of Barrio Canas. To the west, you'll find a tourist area with a hotel. Modern homes are to the north. To the south is the beautiful Caribbean Sea.

The reserve includes all the land southeast of Road PR-2 in Barrio Canas. It also covers the marine areas around Isla de Ratones and Isla Cardona. These two islands are south of Ponce and are part of the reserve.

The main feature is Laguna Salinas, a salty lagoon. It measures about 347,898 square meters. The reserve also has mangrove forests and other coastal forests. You'll find different types of wetlands and marshy areas too. Large areas of sand dunes are covered with herbaceous vegetation. The total land area of the reserve is 698 cuerdas. The Salinas Lagoon has a mangrove forest that covers about 37 acres.

Why Punta Cucharas is Important for Nature

The city of Ponce knew how important the Punta Cucharas area was for nature. They included a special plan for it in their city's development rules. This plan aimed to protect natural resources like Laguna Salinas and its wetlands. It also allowed for some development, but only if nature was protected.

The city's plan wanted to create a special protection zone. This zone would keep the wetlands and the Laguna Salinas safe. The goal was to make Punta Cucharas a "high interest" place for ecotourism. This means it's a great spot for people to visit and enjoy nature while helping to protect it.

Shoreline and Habitats at Punta Cucharas

The shoreline of the reserve has several types of habitats. You can see mangroves that are open to the sea. There are also beaches with a mix of sand and gravel. Other beaches have very fine sand. The wildlife here includes many wading birds and shore birds.

Plants and Animals of Punta Cucharas

The reserve is home to many different living things. It has 148 types of plants and 56 kinds of birds. You can also find five types of mammals, nine reptile species, five amphibians, and six fish species.

Amazing Plants of Punta Cucharas

Some plants in the reserve are very rare and need protection. These include the Cordia rupicola and Leptocereus quadricostatus (sebucan), which are critically endangered. The Guaiacum officinale (guaiac tree) is endangered, and the Maytenus ponceana is vulnerable. Here are some of the 147 plant species found here:

No. Species Family Common Name (Spanish) Common Name (English)
1 Aloe vera Liliaceae sábila aloe vera
2 Acacia farnesiana Fabaceae aroma sweet acacia
3 Achyranthes aspera Amaranthaceae rabo de gato devil's horsewhip
4 Annona glabra Annonaceae cayur corkwood
5 Antigonon leptopus Polygonaceae bellísima coral vine
6 Arundo donax Poaceae caña de castilla Spanish cane
7 Avicennia germinans Verbenaceae mangle negro black mangrove
8 Batis maritima Bataceae yerba de sal saltwort
9 Boerhavia diffusa Nyctaginaceae mata pavo tarvine
10 Bucida buceras Combretaceae ucar bullet tree
11 Bursera simaruba Burseraceae almácigo copperwood
12 Caesalpinia bonduc Fabaceae mato de playa gray nicker
13 Calotropis procera Asclepiadaceae algodón de seda king's crown
14 Canella winterana Canellaceae barbasco cinnamon bark
15 Canavalia rosea Fabaceae haba de playa beach bean
16 Capparis flexuosa Capparaceae palinguan --
17 Capraria biflora Scrophulariaceae té del país goatweed
18 Cassytha filiformis Lauraceae fideillo lovevine
19 Cissus trifoliata Vitaceae bejuco de caro sorrelvine
20 Cleome viscosa Capparaceae volantín spiderflower
21 Coccoloba diversifolia Polygonaceae uvilla pigeonplum
22 Coccoloba uvifera Polygonaceae uva de playa seagrape
23 Colubrina elliptica Rhamnaceae mabí soldierwood
24 Commelina sp. Commelinaceae cohítre dayflower
25 Conocarpus erectus Combretaceae mangle blanco buttomwood
26 Crescentia cujete Bignoniaceae higüera calabash
27 Cynodon dactylon Poaceae yerba Bermuda Bermuda grass
28 Dactyloctenium aegyptium Poaceae yerba egipcia Egyptian crowfoot grass
29 Delonix regia Fabaceae flamboyán poinciana
30 Desmanthus virgatus Fabaceae desmanto wild tantan
31 Digitaria decumbens Poaceae pangola digitgrass
32 Eleusine indica Eleusine indica yerba dulce yard-grass
33 Eupatorium odoratum Compositae cariaquillo santa maría devil weed
34 Euphorbia tirucalli Euphorbiaceae esqueleto naked lady
35 Ficus citrifolia Moraceae jagüey banyantree
36 Fimbristylis dichotoma Cyperaceae junquito forked fimbry
37 Forestiera segregata Oleaceae privet ink-bush
38 Furcraea tuberosa Agavaceae maguey cabuyo
39 Gossipium barbadense Malvaceae algodón cotton
40 Guaiacum officinale Zygophyllaceae guayacan guaiacwood
41 Guazuma ulmifolia Sterculiaceae guácima bay cedar
42 Gymnanthes lucida Euphorbiaceae yaití crabwood
43 Heliotropium curassavicum Boraginaceae cotorrera de playa seaside heliotrope
44 Heteropogon contortus Poaceae yerba torcida black speargrass
45 Hippomane mancinella Euphorbiaceae manzanillo manchineel tree
46 Ipomoea pes-caprae Convolvulaceae bejuco de playa beach morning glory
47 Jatropha gossypiifolia Euphorbiaceae túa-túa bellyache bush
48 Krugiodendron ferreum Rhamnaceae bariaco leadwood
49 Laguncularia racemosa Verbenaceae mangle blanco white mangrove
50 Lantana involucrata Verbenaceae cariaquillo buttonsage
51 Leucaena leucocephala Fabaceae zarzilla white leadtree
52 Macfadyena unguis-cati Bignoniaceae uña de gato cat's claw creeper
53 Melicoccus bijugatus Sapindaceae quenepa genip
54 Metopium toxiferum Anacardiaceae papayo poisonwood
55 Opuntia repens Cactaceae cactus saltarín* roving pricklypear
56 Parkinsonia aculeata Fabaceae palo de rayo Parkinsonia aculeata
57 Passiflora suberosa Passifloraceae flor de pasión passionflower
58 Paspalum laxum Poaceae matojo de arena bahiagrass
59 Pennisetum setaceum Poaceae yerba crimson fountaingrass
60 Phoenix dactylifera Araceae palma de datil date plam
61 Pilosocereus royenii Cactaceae sebucan cactus
62 Pisonia albida Nyctaginaceae corcho birdcatcher tree
63 Pithecellobium dulce Fabaceae guamá americano --
64 Plumbago scandens Plumbaginaceae meladillo doctorbush
65 Portulaca oleracea Portulacaceae verdolaga pigweed
66 Prosopis juliflora Fabaceae bayahonda mesquite
67 Randia aculeata Rubiaceae tintillo white indigoberry
68 Rhizophora mangle Rhizophoraceae mangle rojo red mangrove
69 Rivina humilis Phytolaccaceae carmín pigeonberry
70 Roystonea borinquena Arecaceae palma real Puerto Rican royal palm
71 Ruppia maritima Ruppiaceae yerba de zanja ditch-grass
72 Rhynchosia minima Fabaceae frijolillo jumby-bean
73 Sesbania sericea Fabaceae papagayo riverhemp
74 Sesuvium portulacastrum Portulacaceae verdolaga rosada shoreline purslane
75 Solanum elaeagnifolium Solanaceae trompillo silverleaf nightshade
76 Sporobolus virginicus Poaceae matojo de burro seashore dropseed
77 Tabebuia heterophylla Bignoniaceae roble blanco white cedar
78 Talinum paniculatum Portulacaceae lengua de vaca pink baby's-breath
79 Tamarindus indica Fabaceae tamarindo tamarind
80 Thespesia populnea Malvaceae emajagüilla Portia tree
81 Tillandsia recurvata Bromeliaceae pirigallo small ballmoss
82 Urochloa maxima Poaceae yerba de guinea Guinea grass
83 Vernonia cinerea Compositae yerba socialista little ironweed

Amazing Animals of Punta Cucharas

Birds of Punta Cucharas

Fifty-six types of birds have been seen in the reserve. Five of these birds are endemic, meaning they live only in Puerto Rico. One important bird is the Charrancito (Sternula antillarum). This bird nests in the area.

Some of the endemic birds you might see are:

The Mariquita (Agelaius xanthomus) visits the area but doesn't live there. Other birds include the Zumbador Dorado (Anthracothorax dominicus), Zumbador Pechiazul (Eulampis holosericeus), Zorzal Pardo (Margarops fuscatus), and Jilguero (Euphonia musica).

Out of the 56 bird species, six are endemic, 44 live there all the time, five are migratory (they visit), and one was brought in by people. Here's a list of some of them:

No. Family Species Common Name (Spanish) Common Name (English) Status
1 Alcedinidae Ceryle alcyon martín pescador belted kingfisher Migratory
2 Anatidae Anas bahamensis pato quijada colorada white-cheeked pintail Resident
3 Anatidae Anas discors pato zarcel blue-winged teal Migratory
4 Ardeidae Ardea alba garza real great egret Resident
5 Ardeidae Ardea herodias garzón cenizo great blue heron Resident
6 Ardeidae Bubulcus ibis garza ganadera cattle egret Resident
7 Ardeidae Egretta caerulea garza azul little blue heron Resident
8 Ardeidae Egretta thula garza blanca snowy egret Resident
9 Ardeidae Egretta tricolor garza pechiblanca tricolored heron Resident
10 Ardeidae Nyctanassa violacea yaboa común yellow-crowned night heron Resident
11 Cathartidae Cathartes aura aura tiñosa turkey vulture Resident
12 Charadriidae Charadrius semipalmatus playero acollarado semipalmated plover Resident
13 Charadriidae Charadrius wilsonia playerito marítimo Wilson's plover Resident
14 Charadriidae Pluvialis squatarola playero cabezón grey plover Resident
15 Coerebidae Coereba flaveola reinita común bananaquit Resident
16 Columbidae Columbina passerina rolita common ground dove Resident
17 Columbidae Zenaida asiatica tórtola aliblanca white-winged dove Resident
18 Cuculidae Crotophaga ani judío smooth-billed ani Resident
19 Emberizidae Dendroica adelaidae reinita mariposera Adelaide's warbler Resident
20 Emberizidae Dendroica petechia canario de mangle American yellow warbler Resident
21 Emberizidae Dendroica tigrina reinita tigre Cape May warbler Migratory
22 Emberizidae Loxigilla portoricensis comeñame Puerto Rican bullfinch Endemic
23 Emberizidae Seiurus noveboracensis pizpita de mangle northern waterthrush Migratory
24 Emberizidae Tiaris bicolor gorrión negro black-faced grassquit Resident
25 Falconidae Buteo jamaicensis guaraguao red-tailed hawk Resident
26 Falconidae Falco peregrinus halcón peregrino peregrine falcon Migratory
27 Falconidae Falco sparverius falcón común American kestrel Resident
28 Fregatidae Fregata magnificens tijereta de mar magnificent frigatebird Resident
29 Icteridae Icterus dominicensis calandria Hispaniolan oriole Resident
30 Icteridae Icterus icterus turpial Venezuelan troupial Introduced
31 Icteridae Molothrus bonariensis tordo lustroso shiny cowbird Resident
32 Icteridae Quiscalus niger chango Greater Antillean grackle Resident
33 Laridae Larus atricilla gaviota gallega laughing gull Resident
34 Mimidae Mimus polyglottos ruiseñor northern mockingbird Resident
35 Muscicapidae Turdus plumbeus zorzal de patas coloradas red-legged thrush Resident
36 Pandionidae Pandion haliaetus águila de mar osprey Resident
37 Pelecanidae Pelecanus occidentalis pelicano pardo brown pelican Resident
38 Recurvirostridae Himantopus mexicanus viuda black-necked stilt Resident
39 Scolopacidae Actitis macularia playero coleador spotted sandpiper Resident
40 Scolopacidae Arenaria interpres playero Turco ruddy turnstone Resident
41 Scolopacidae Calidris himantopus playero patilargo stilt sandpiper Resident
42 Scolopacidae Calidris mauri playerito occidental western sandpiper Resident
43 Scolopacidae Calidris melanotos playero manchado pectoral sandpiper Migratory
44 Scolopacidae Calidris minutilla playero menudo least sandpiper Resident
45 Scolopacidae Calidris pusilla playerito gracioso semipalmated sandpiper Resident
46 Scolopacidae Catoptrophorus semipalmatus playero aliblanco willet Resident
47 Scolopacidae Limnodromus griseus chorlo pico corto short-billed dowitcher Resident
48 Scolopacidae Tringa flavipes playero guineilla menor lesser yellowlegs Resident
49 Scolopacidae Tringa solitaria playero solitario solitary sandpiper Resident
50 Thraupidae Spindalis portoricensis reina mora Puerto Rican spindalis Endemic
51 Todidae Todus mexicanus San Pedrito Puerto Rican tody Endemic
52 Tyrannidae Myiarchus antillarum juí de Puerto Rico Puerto Rican flycatcher Endemic
53 Tyrannidae Tyrannus dominicensis pitirre gray kingbird Endemic
54 Vireonidae Vireo latimeri bien te veo Puerto Rican vireo Endemic

Mammals of Punta Cucharas

Five types of mammals have been found in Punta Cucharas.

No. Family Species Common Name (Spanish) Common Name (English) Status
1 Muridae Rattus rattus rata negra black rat Introduced
2 Muridae Rattus norvegicus rata de noruega brown rat Introduced
3 Muridae Mus musculus ratón house mouse Introduced
4 Viverridae Herpestes auropunctatus mangosta small Asian mongoose Introduced
5 Canidae Canis familiaris perro domestic dog Domestic

Reptiles of Punta Cucharas

Punta Cucharas is home to several reptiles. These include:

The lagartijo jardinero del sur (Anolis poncensis) is a special lizard. It is protected as a "vulnerable" animal. This means it needs help to survive. Here is a list of reptiles found in the Reserve:

No. Family Species Common Name (Spanish) Common Name (English) Status
1 Gekkonidae Hemidactylus brooki haitianus salamanquesa Brooke's house gecko Native
2 Gekkonidae Sphaerodactylus macrolepis salamaquita de la Virgen Big-scaled least gecko Native
3 Gekkonidae Sphaerodactylus roosevelti salamaquita de la Virgen -- Endemic
4 Iguanidae Anolis cristatellus lagartijo común crested anole Native
5 Iguanidae Anolis pulchellus lagartijo jardinero Sharp-mouthed lizard Native
6 Iguanidae Anolis poncensis lagartijo jardinero del sur Ponce anole Endemic
(Vulnerable)
7 Teiidae Ameiva exsul siguana Puerto Rican ground lizard Native

Amphibians of Punta Cucharas

Here are the amphibians found in the reserve:

No. Family Species Common Name (Spanish) Common Name (English) Status
1 Bufonidae Bufo marinus sapo común cane toad Introduced
2 Leptodactylidae Eleutherodactylus coqui coquí común common coquí Endemic
3 Leptodactylidae Leptodactylus albilabris ranita de labio blanco Hispaniolan ditch frog Native

Challenges and Improvements for the Reserve

Keeping Punta Cucharas Clean

In 2004, a study warned that the area was being used as a secret dumping ground. People were leaving old cars and trash there. The report suggested ways to manage, clean, and protect the area. Many groups, including local citizens and environmental organizations, have helped clean up the Salinas Lagoon. The DRNA has also worked to plant new trees and plants. Sadly, in 2013, some people dumped construction waste, which is against the law and can lead to a big fine.

Protecting the Reserve by Law

To help protect the area even more, the government of Puerto Rico made Punta Cucharas a natural reserve. This was done under a special program called the "Puerto Rico Natural Patrimony Program Act." This law helps keep important natural places safe.

Future Plans for Punta Cucharas

In 2012, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources shared plans for the reserve. They want to make it better for visitors while still protecting nature. Some ideas include:

  • Moving the main entrance for cars.
  • Improving the existing roads.
  • Building picnic areas (gazebos) and a gazebo for nature talks.
  • Adding a floating dock for kayaks.
  • Building another dock for fishing.
  • Putting up an observation tower to see the views.
  • Building a restaurant and bathroom facilities.
  • Creating a boat ramp for easy access to the water.

These improvements are planned to have a low impact on the environment. For example, there will be no new water or electricity lines brought into the area. The cost for these plans was estimated at $1.2 million.

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