DNER launches coral reef, wetlands restoration along coastline

By THE STAR STAFF

Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) Secretary Waldemar Quiles Pérez on Tuesday announced an initiative to restore coral reefs along Puerto Rico’s coastline, alongside nine flagship projects focused on mangrove planting and wetland rehabilitation.

Quiles emphasized the urgency of addressing coastal erosion and its impact on marine ecosystems, noting that the agency has moved swiftly since he assumed leadership in January. “Coastal erosion and its effect on our reefs is a critical issue we’ve tackled with urgency,” he said. “This year, we approved the Puerto Rico Coral Reef and Restoration Plan, a vital document for ecosystem recovery.”

The DNER is collaborating with several nonprofit organizations, including Coral Sociedad Ambiente Marino Culebra, Desarrollo Ambiental de Vega Baja, and ISER Caribe, to implement restoration efforts. One of the most ambitious undertakings is the evaluation of a coral reef barrier restoration project in the San Juan metropolitan area, which Quiles described as one of the most extensive efforts of its kind nationwide.

Among the most significant projects is the restoration of reefs in the Ocean Park and Punta Las Marías areas. The initiative, backed by a $38.6 million allocation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, aims to mitigate coastal flooding caused by storm surges.

In addition to coral reef restoration, the DNER is spearheading mangrove and wetland rehabilitation programs across the island, including wetland rehabilitation at Jobos Beach in Isabela; reforestation in Boca de Cangrejos, Loíza; runoff management at Tamarindo Beach in Culebra; wetland restoration in Punta Tuna, Maunabo; conservation efforts in the Bahía de Jobos Research Natural Reserve in Salinas; improvements at Tamarindo Beach in Guánica; rehabilitation of wetlands in Papayo Lagoon, Lajas; and the cleanup of historic wetlands in the salt flats of Cabo Rojo.