Puerto del Manglar Red Mangrove Restoration

"Approximately 20 acres of coastal fringing mangroves were restored at a variety of sites along 15,000 feet of shoreline on the island of Culebra. Culebra is the main island in an archipelago of 22 smaller islands that has been designated the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge due to its importance as a sanctuary for many common and endangered species of birds, fish and sea turtles. The mangroves of Culebra were severely impacted by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, and they failed to recover naturally. Thus, this project—implemented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service... with local government and community organizations—sought to help rejuvenate and restore this sensitive mangrove ecosystem. It is hoped that these mangroves will stabilize the shoreline and provide protection during future storms, but more importantly, that they will nurture healthy coastal and marine ecosystems for the benefit of the wildlife that calls the Refuge home."