The 2018 Hurricane Season is here again, and this year. City Images decided to take a closer look at the island of enchantment.
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an unincorporated US territory located in the northeast Caribbean Sea. This island is not only special for its beautiful beaches and stunning shores.
Located at Las Casas de la Selva in the southern mountains adjacent to Puerto Rico's Carite State Forest, Tropic Ventures Sustainable Forestry & Rainforest Enrichment Project is dedicated to developing methods of using rainforest land in a manner that maintains the ecology of the rainforest.
The Puerto Rican Department of Natural & Environmental Resources, together with USDA and Forest Service, have been supporting the forest enrichment program by supplying seedlings and subsidizing planting costs to encourage the development of timber production in Puerto Rico's forests.
When the first line planting took place in 1984 it was with a view to replacing imported timber with homegrown products, and approximately 40,000 pine, mahogany, and blue mahoe saplings were planted in about 25% of La Casas de la Selva's secondary forest between 1984 and 1990. With workers using hand-tools in order to preserve the soil structure and minimize erosion, the saplings were planted in rows stretching from east to west, under a canopy of a secondary forest. The saplings grew rapidly and ongoing research monitors the progress of the trees and their impact on their environment.
The blue mahoe, Talipariti elatum, is a species of flowering tree in the mallow family, Those between 24 and 28 years old are currently being selectively harvested at Las Casas de la Selva, Spanish for The Jungle Houses. Native to Cuba and Jamaica, mahoe grows well in shade and is therefore suitable to cultivate in secondary forests. With its straight growth, which can reach a height of 80 ft, mahoe is well suited for processing, and its variety of blue-hued colors and interesting grain makes it a superb wood for a variety of purposes. Moreover, it is easy to work with and has a natural gloss when finished. Blue mahoe is popular for the crafting of furniture, decorative boxes, and chests, floors, jewelry, sculpture, and cuatros a popular musical instrument in Puerto Rico.
Nature loving and eco-conscious travelers who add Las Casas de la Selva to their itinerary when visiting this picturesque part of Puerto Rico will find that it is time well spent.
Let all Americans keep in mind that the people of Puerto Rico have suffered greatly over the past year, and efforts on the part of the US government have fallen short, to say the least. However, Puerto Rican people are resilient and will move forward no matter what.
New Puerto Rico data shows deaths increased by 1,400 after Hurricane Maria
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/new-puerto-rico-data-shows-deat…
What it's like on the ground in Puerto Rico https://cnn.it/2kG5noW
Puerto Rico faces lawsuits over hurricane death count data https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/puerto-rico-crisis/puerto-rico-faces-…
Still mending Maria's mess, Puerto Rico braces for a new hurricane season https://cnn.it/2LS3FNJ
Puerto Rico is Facing Lawsuits Over Hurricane Death Count Data https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/national-international/Puerto-Rico-Hur…