Number: 2005-07
Puerto Rican Wetland Protection WHEREAS, 75% of Puerto Rico’s wetlands — the largest expanse of tropical wetlands within the United States — have been destroyed, including over 53% of original mangroves and 90% of the San Juan Bay Estuary wetlands, for diverse purposes that have provided less net benefit to society; and
WHEREAS, recent studies show that 17% of Puerto Rico’s estuaries have become dangerous to aquatic life and 77% show poor conditions for marine life because of: sedimentation, the degradation of water quality from toxic chemicals and excess nutrients, the intrusion of salt water caused by excessive groundwater withdrawals from coastal aquifers, the elimination of shallow-water feeding habitat by levees that prevent the influx of fresh water and silt into the coastal wetland system, leading to cultural eutrophication and resulting in severe vegetative overgrowth that affects wetland ecosystem balance and impacts migratory waders and other aquatic species; and
WHEREAS, Puerto Rico’s wetlands provide critically important wintering habitat for an enormous variety and abundance of Neotropical migratory birds along the North American Migratory Flyway, that include shorebirds, waterfowl and warbler species, some of which are on the List of Migratory Birds of Management Concern in the United States or have experienced population declines over recent decades, such as the endangered Piping Plover and Brown Pelican; and
WHEREAS, Puerto Rico’s wetlands also provide important habitat for many species of birds, waterfowl, mammals, fish and shellfish, 40 of which are listed by the local Department of Natural Resources as rare or endangered, including 20 bird species, such as the West Indian Whistling Duck, the Ruddy Duck and the Masked Duck, species that are directly threatened by aquatic habitat losses; and
WHEREAS, wetlands serve as a nursery ground for commercial and recreational fisheries and support the nation’s seafood industry, which is estimated to generate in excess of $10 billion annually in the United States and several million in Puerto Rico; and
WHEREAS, wetlands provide a pollution filtering function for the water that reaches beaches and coral reefs that help support marine life and the tourism industry, which is estimated to generate in excess of $2 billion annually, as well as filtering surface waters that form the island’s water supply; and
WHEREAS, wetlands encourage ecotourism development essential for the subsistence of traditional coastal communities and provide numerous outdoor recreational opportunities including fishing, hiking and wildlife observation; and
WHEREAS, the Cienaga Tiburones Swamp — Puerto Rico’s largest wetland — continues to suffer from habitat and water quality degradation from a solid waste disposal facility, agricultural facilities and new urban sprawl nearby, and Cartagena Lagoon continues to exhibit habitat degradation due to cultural eutrophication and the disruption of its natural hydroperiod and hydrological regime that has occurred since the drainage in the early twentieth century of both the Guanica Lagoon – the second largest lagoon in Puerto Rico – and the nearby Cienaga Anegado Swamp, renowned prime wintering habitats for migratory and local species, some of which are currently endangered or threatened; and
WHEREAS, limited wetland restoration actions in Puerto Rico, such as Humacao’s Nature Reserve lagoons and Cienaga Tiburones Swamp, have demonstrated the tremendous success potential for habitat and wildlife recovery, particularly for Neotropical migratory bird species; and
WHEREAS, continued environmental degradation and lost opportunities for Puerto Rico’s watershed and habitat restoration will continue to occur as long as current local and federal laws such the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act are not sufficiently implemented or enforced, and the Administration, Congress, Government of Puerto Rico and local and federal agencies fail to take the actions necessary to develop a comprehensive program to prevent pollution at its source;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), at its annual meeting assembled April 1-2, 2005, in Washington, D.C., promotes and encourages the U.S. Congress and the Administration, and the Government of Puerto Rico, in partnership with local and federal agencies and non-profit organizations, to commit the funds and resources needed to identify, study, acquire, manage and restore wetlands and aquatic habitats, including hydrographic basins, estuaries, coral reefs and aquifer systems throughout the archipelago of Puerto Rico; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NWF urges federal and local governments and agencies to make specific efforts to promote active, informed participation and direct involvement of local citizens and non-profit organizations; establish educational programs; support sustainable resource-based outdoor recreation; and evaluate the potential to fund volunteer efforts and encourage public participation in wetland conservation issues; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NWF urges federal and local governments and agencies to request appropriations and redirect funds to encourage incentives for the conservation, acquisition or restoration of wetlands through increased income, estate, gift or capital gains tax benefits to allow the sale of conservation easements on wetland property to conservation agencies or other qualified organizations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NWF urges federal and local governments and agencies to regulate all activities affecting the wildlife value and functional attributes of wetlands and estuaries; implement an aggressive, coordinated and cooperative management plan to identify, reduce and eliminate persistent and bioaccumulative pollutants by requiring industries and other polluters to reduce and eliminate toxics use and generation at the source; increase studies and analysis of noise, soil and water quality; and bring an end to incentives and subsidies which contribute to wetland degradation; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NWF urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop and direct an interagency task force to protect wetlands from dredge, sedimentation and fill activities; establish management measures that will recognize optimal flood control, soil and water quality, wildlife habitat, and economic benefits by preserving and restoring natural hydrology, natural hydrological functions and characteristics — even during times of hydrological extremes — to support historic survival rates of fish and wildlife populations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NWF urges the Government of Puerto Rico to implement and enhance its Wetland Public Policy, established by Law #314, towards the complete acquisition and conservation of the Cienaga Tiburones Swamp and other wetlands, recognizing that the promotion of economic values and social well being is accomplished by restoring and enhancing the ecological values of its wetlands; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NWF opposes flood control, navigation, and irrigation activities (including the provision of technical support), special flood insurance, or exemptions for Puerto Rico from federal or local laws that encourage or subsidize further wetland destruction; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NWF urges the complete restoration — to the extent possible, to their original pre-disturbance condition, including the restoration of a normal, seasonal hydrological regime — of the Cartagena Lagoon, Guanica Lagoon, Cienaga Tiburones Swamp, Cienaga Cucharillas Swamp, Cienaga Anegado Swamp, and urges the U.S. Congress to recognize them as national priority ecosystems under the Clean Water Act (as it has the Chesapeake Bay) for their local and national significance.