Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
The Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge
in Puerto Rico
. It is part of the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
The present lagoon
is a remnant of what was once a large open expanse of water and one of the most important freshwater habitats for migrating waterfowl
and aquatic birds in Puerto Rico
. Due to agricultural practices, about 90 percent of the lagoon is covered with cattail. Intensive cattle
grazing and sugar cane production have greatly altered the original landscape.
In addition to the lagoon, there are upland
s that include pastureland, abandoned sugar cane fields, and 263 acres (1.1 km²) in the foothills of the Sierra Bermeja
. These hills, geologically the oldest in the Caribbean
, protect native forest with many endemic plant species. The area is a stopover for neotropical migrants and several species of waterbirds. The endangered
Yellow-shouldered Blackbird
and peregrine falcon
have been reported on the refuge.
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. It is part of the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
The present lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
is a remnant of what was once a large open expanse of water and one of the most important freshwater habitats for migrating waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
and aquatic birds in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Due to agricultural practices, about 90 percent of the lagoon is covered with cattail. Intensive cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
grazing and sugar cane production have greatly altered the original landscape.
In addition to the lagoon, there are upland
Highland (geography)
The term highland or upland is used to denote any mountainous region or elevated mountainous plateau. Generally speaking, the term upland tends to be used for ranges of hills, typically up to 500-600m, and highland for ranges of low mountains.The Scottish Highlands refers to the mountainous...
s that include pastureland, abandoned sugar cane fields, and 263 acres (1.1 km²) in the foothills of the Sierra Bermeja
Sierra Bermeja
Sierra Bermeja is a mountain range in southwestern Puerto Rico. It covers the area from the Laguna Cartegena to the north, to the Caribbean Sea to the south. From the Boqueron Forest to the west, to La Parguera to the east. It consists of a combination of volcanic rocks, completely crossed by...
. These hills, geologically the oldest in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, protect native forest with many endemic plant species. The area is a stopover for neotropical migrants and several species of waterbirds. The endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
Yellow-shouldered Blackbird
Yellow-shouldered Blackbird
The Yellow-shouldered Blackbird , also known as La Mariquita de Puerto Rico or Capitán, is a diurnal blackbird endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico and one of the eleven species belonging to the Agelaius genus of the Icteridae family.-Taxonomy:The nominate form of the Yellow-shouldered...
and peregrine falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
have been reported on the refuge.