Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, January 9, 2023 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at this time introduced the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service will make investments $1 million to enhance entry to El Yunque Nationwide Forest.
This funding is a part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s dedication to make sure rural communities have equitable entry to the infrastructure and financial alternatives they should develop and thrive.
“El Yunque is a particular place to the individuals of Puerto Rico and USDA is dedicated to investing within the Forest to advertise visitation, recreation, and financial improvement — outcomes that may be maximized by way of collaboration and partnerships with the private and non-private sector,” mentioned Secretary Vilsack.
“Bettering equitable entry means guests can expertise this wonderful place and help rural economies on the island on the identical time.”
Folks come to El Yunque for its breathtaking surroundings, clear mountain rivers and outside recreation alternatives. About 1.2 million individuals go to El Yunque every year, which represents 20% of the Puerto Rican tourism economic system. Car congestion in El Yunque Nationwide Forest has been a problem for 80 years. Whereas as much as 3,000 automobiles look to enter every day, the Forest solely has 300 parking areas.
“El Yunque is among the most original forests on this planet, and it’s as much as us to make sure entry to its recreation and pleasure for everybody,” mentioned Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “This funding displays our company’s values and demonstrates our dedication to El Yunque Nationwide Forest, our neighboring communities and those that go to this particular place.”
In December, USDA kickstarted this effort with a $250,000 funding to develop a grasp transit plan to enhance the customer expertise. These engaged with this mission envision a park and trip system to shuttle guests into the Forest, permitting extra individuals to get pleasure from El Yunque. The $1 million being introduced at this time is a further funding in addition to an invite to public, non-profit and personal sector companions to affix the Forest Service in laying the groundwork to make this imaginative and prescient a actuality.
In the present day’s announcement builds on a decades-long collaboration between Puerto Rico communities, non-profit organizations and the personal sector. This consists of the Puerto Rico Division of Transportation and Public Works, which has evaluated automobile visitors in and round El Yunque.
“Everybody has come collectively to complement the lives of individuals and the communities related to this forest,” mentioned El Yunque Nationwide Forest Supervisor Keenan Adams.
These joint efforts between USDA, the Forest Service and Puerto Rico lay the groundwork for elevated collaboration sooner or later, together with by way of Shared Stewardship. This method acknowledges pressing land administration challenges have no idea borders or boundary traces. By way of Shared Stewardship, the Forest Service works with others to search out options and discover alternatives throughout administration jurisdictions. This collaborative method to land administration builds on an extended historical past of partnerships to handle the nation’s forests and grasslands.
About El Yunque Nationwide Forest
El Yunque Nationwide Forest is one among Puerto Rico’s icons. It’s thought-about a sacred place in Puerto Rican tradition. It is also the one tropical rainforest within the Nationwide Forest System.
El Yunque is one among our nation’s most biologically numerous forests. In truth, there are about as many tree species at El Yunque — about 250 several types of bushes on lower than 30,000 acres — as on all of the 192 million acres of different nationwide forests mixed. It was established in 1876 to guard watersheds; the forest gives about 20% of Puerto Rico’s consuming water.
About El Portal de El Yunque
El Portal de El Yunque is the Nationwide Forest’s customer middle — a hub for academic and interpretive providers. It’s co-stewarded by three companions: Vitrina Solidaria, Fundación Amigos de El Yunque and Jap Nationwide. These accomplice organizations present management in applications whereas delivering the Forest Service mission inside a sustainable financial improvement perspective. El Portal presents an arts program that highlights the connection between nature and people, a concessionaire promoting native merchandise, a coworking area and an occasion pavilion for guests and group members. It additionally encompasses a film that introduces guests to the distinctive points of the forest, its ecosystems and historic background.
The 40,000 sq. foot open-architecture facility re-opened final yr after it was closed for almost 4 years because of damages brought on by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. For extra details about El Portal Customer and Group Middle go to right here: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/elyunque/recarea/?recid=43379
USDA touches the lives of all Individuals every day in so many constructive methods. Below the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is remodeling America’s meals system with a higher concentrate on extra resilient native and regional meals manufacturing, selling competitors and fairer markets for all producers, guaranteeing entry to protected, wholesome and nutritious meals in all communities, constructing new markets and streams of revenue for farmers and producers utilizing climate-smart meals and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clear power capabilities in rural America, and committing to fairness throughout the Division by eradicating systemic obstacles and constructing a workforce extra consultant of America. To study extra, go to www.usda.gov.
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