The Caribbean Area's first JCI project completed its three-year project period in December 2020. Initiative priorities were to:

• Reduce and mitigate wildfire threats to communities and landowners;
• Protect water quality and supply for communities and industry; and
• Improve habitat quality for at-risk or ecosystem surrogate species.

The initiative focused on establishing biological corridors and restoring ecosystem functionality post-hurricane in the central mountain range of western Puerto Rico. The project area included the Río Grande de Añasco, Río Guanajibo, Río Culebrinas, Río Guajataca, Río Camuy and Río Grande de Arecibo watersheds. NRCS worked with the US Forest Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) along with 10 other partners to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and soil health, mitigate wildfire threats, and improve habitat quality for at-risk species. The NRCS portion of the project allocated financial and technical assistance to eligible land and farmers from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to establish selected conservation practices on their land. Targeted practices included: multi-story cropping, silvopasture, tree/ shrub establishment, fire breaks, hedgerow planting, and windbreak/ shelterbelt establishment.

Accomplishments:

• 38 farms under NRCS conservation contracts (FY 18, 19 & 20) representing over 2,915 acres with restoration activities;
• 13 Stewardship Management Plans completed by Cafiesencia (subcontracted by SWCD and the US Forest Service), and 27 planned;
• Over 30,000 native trees propagated and 8,582 native trees delivered and planted under the Initiative (by Protectores de Cuencas, PDC, subcontracted by SWCD and US Forest Service; and by Envirosurvey under cooperative agreement with NRCS). An additional 10,000 native trees propagated in FY 2021 & 2022;
• 3 populations of 170 individuals of the endangered Stahlia monosperma tree species established on private lands;
• Completed plans for monitoring project implementation on 38 farms for three years. Monitoring began in March 2021 by Para La Naturaleza (subcontracted by SWCD and US Forest Service)
• Continued receipt of technical assistance from US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and PR DNER.

The success of the initiative was measured primarily based on the amount of acreage enrolled in the program, the number of conservation plans developed, the growth and survival of trees planted for habitat restoration and enhancement purposes, the improvement of habitat quality, and the increase of suitable habitat for the four targeted species.

Required Land Uses

• Crop
• Forest
• Farmstead
• Pasture
• Associated Agricultural Lands

Approved Natural Resource Concerns

• Degraded Plant Condition
  • Undesirable plant productivity and health
  • Inadequate structure and composition
  • Excessive plant pest pressure
  • Wildfire hazard, excessive biomass accumulation
• Insufficient Water
  • Inefficient moisture management
• Water Quality Degradation
  • Excess nutrients in surface and ground waters
  • Excessive sediment in surface waters
  • Elevated water temperature
• Inadequate Fish & Wildlife Habitat
  • Inadequate habitat - food
  • Inadequate habitat - cover / shelter
  • Inadequate habitat - water
  • Inadequate habitat - habitat continuity (space)