Puerto Rico Critical Wildlife Areas - Puerto DRNA - Gobierno de ...

37- Carite State Forest, Cayey, Puerto Rico
Area Description:
The Carite State Forest is in the southeast part of the island, located in the Sierra de
Cayey, between the municipalities of San Lorenzo, Patillas, Guayama, Cayey and Caguas. This
forest is divided in four segments and it is located in three different life zones: 1-Subtropical
humid forest 2-Subtropical very humid forest and 3-Lower montane forest (Silander et al 1986).
Carite Forest is classified as a subtropical moist forest (Ewel and Whitmore 1973). The forest is
mainly transitional with many ecotones. Some of the forest’s native vegetation has been
replaced by Eucalyptus rubustus and Pinus caribaea (Pérez-Rivera and Nadal 1996).
The forest is comprised of 2,671 ha, with elevations ranging from 250 meters to 903
meters. Its highest peak is Cerro La Santa at 903 m. Most of the forest area is composed of welldissected,
mature topography with slopes ranging from 20 to 60 percent (DRN 1976).
Five categories of forest have been recognized: 1-Upper montane 2-Lower montane 3-
Dwarf 4-Early secondary 5-Plantations (DRN 1976). The forest is the origin of three rivers: Río
Grande de Loíza, Río Patillas and Río La Plata (Silander et al 1986). A forest ranger has been in
the area since 1935 and critical areas in the forest had been identified such as the dwarf forest;
areas with rare species and Tabonuco areas (Silander et al 1986).
The endangered Puerto Rican Broad-winged hawk Buteo platypterus brunnescens, an
uncommon and extremely local resident in Puerto Rico, was unknown from the Carite forest
until 1980, when the existence of a resident population present year-round was reported
(Hernández-Prieto, 1980). In 1992, 20 broad-winged hawks were counted in the Carite forest
and a population of 22 individuals was estimated (Delannoy, 1992). In the Carite forest the
species has been reported from the Elfin forest, Caimitillo, Granadillo, Tabonuco, and slope
forest types (Hernandez 1980; Delannoy 1992). Delannoy (1997) report a breeding population
of the critically endangered Sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus venator in the Carite Forest
(Delannoy 1992).
Ownership/Protection:
Carite State Forest is a public land of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and
administered by the DNER. This forest was established in 1935 for wood production and to
protect the basin of the Río Grande de Loíza, Río Grande de Patillas and Río Grande de la Plata
rivers.
Special Recognition:
The Carite State Forest was first recognized as a CWA for its avian richness in 1980
(Moreno and Pérez). In 2004, BirdLife International and SOPI recognized Carite State Forest as
an Important Bird Area. Because it’s wildlife richness and the populations of two critically
endangered hawks (Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned hawks) we classified the Carite State
Forest as primary area for wildlife.
Wildlife:
Hernández-Prieto (1980) determined that species richness is higher in the Caimitillo
Microphollys chrysophylloides Forest, followed by the Granadillo Buchenavia capitata and
Tabonuco Dacryoides excelsa forest.
134