Linking art, ecology, and public engagement in the conservation of land: the case of the Northeastern Ecological Corridor in the island of Puerto Rico

Background/Question/Methods: Covering nearly 3,000 acres of Puerto Rican land, the Northeast Ecological Corridor (NEC) has been recognized by Commonwealth, Federal and U.S. based conservation entities as one of island's most valuable natural sites and one of the Caribbean's great biodiversity hotspots. The NEC is the second most important nesting site for critically endangered Leatherback sea turtles in all U.S. jurisdiction. It supports an extraordinary array of tropical habitats seldom found in other parts of the world, that are home to more than 50 rare, threatened, and endemic species. The NEC's importance also extends to other nearby sites such as El Yunque National Forest designated as a United Nations Biosphere Reserve. The Corridor guarantees the interrelation between the rain mountainous forests found at El Yunque and the dry forests found on its coastal foot hills, through a passageway of just 13 miles in length. On October 2007, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico established as public policy the designation of the NEC as a nature reserve while promoting its economic development through the sustainable construction of eco-hotels and the operation of nature tourism amenities. This was the result of 10 years of work carried out by local community and environmental groups, organized under the Northeast Ecological Corridor Coalition. This Coalition designed an extremely successful public outreach and engagement campaign that linked art, culture, and ecology for the conservation of the NEC as a Nature Reserve. In spite of this extraordinary conservation story, the current Governor, Hon. Fortuño, in an unprecedented action in the history of Puerto Rico, eliminated the designation of the NEC as a nature reserve last October 30, 2009 to make way for the construction of unsustainable residential-tourism projects. Results/Conclusions: The Coalition is currently engaged in continuing its campaign in favor of the NEC, specifically urging the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to reinstate the designation of the NEC as a nature reserve. The NEC's campaign is of considerable national and historical significance, as it has been highly visible compared to other struggles to protect natural areas of ecological importance in the island. There are many facets that can be examined within this conservation campaign, for it serves as an excellent venue to reflect on the strategies used by different actors in the conflicts between development, social, and environmental policies.