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

47- Toro Negro State Forest, Ciales-Jayuya-Ponce-Juana Diaz-Orocovis, Puerto Rico
Area Description:
The Toro Negro State Forest (TNSF) cover an area of 3159 ha in seven separate tracts
and is located in the municipalities of Ciales, Jayuya, Ponce, Juana Díaz and Orocovis, in the
moist mountains of the Central Cordillera (Geraldo Hernández, TNSF Manager, pers. comm.).
The entire forest is especially critical for soil and water conservation. Cerro La Punta (1338 m),
the highest peak in Puerto Rico, is located in the western section of the forest and the lowest
elevation is found at the south edge of the forest near Inabón Falls, approximately 440 m.
The Sierra Palm Prestoea montana covers the largest area of all forest type in TNSF,
while the dwarf forest domain in the higher peaks. Caimitillo Buchenavia sp. and Micropholis
sp. are dominant species in the lower montane zonal vegetation association. At lower elevations,
the Tabonuco type Dacryoides excelsa is the dominant species in the subtropical wet life zone
(DNR 1976).
The forest is located in two different life zones: subtropical very humid forest and very
humid lower montanous forest. The topography is uneven with steep cliffs and waterfalls. Seven
rivers are located in the forest: 1-Río Indalecia 2-Río Guayo 3-Río Inabón 4-Río Anón 5-Río
Matrullas 6-Río Saliente 7-Río Toro Negro. Two lakes are located in the forest: 1-Lago Guineo
2-Lago Matrullas (Silander et al 1986). Others rivers located in the forest are: Jauca, Veguita,
Caricaboa, Saliente, Salientito, Matrullas, and Guineo rivers (Geraldo Hernández, pers. comm.).
Ownership/Protection:
In 1934, the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration buys the lands in order to create
the Forest. In 1942, the Department of the Interior transfers the lands to the Federal Department
of Agriculture and the lands where administered by the U.S. Forest Service. In 1961, the forest
was transferred to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Actually, the TNSF is administered by
the DNER, Forest Service Division.
Special Recognition:
The area was declared a Federal Forest in 1934 and a State Forest in 1961 (Silander et al
1986). Raffaele and Duffield (1979) recognized TNSF as a CWA of primary importance. In
2004, BirdLife International and SOPI recognized TNSF as an Important Bird Area. Today, we
still recognized TNSF as a prime wildlife area.
Wildlife:
Birds
Thirty six bird species have been reported in Toro Negro Forest: Sharp-shinned hawk
Accipiter striatus, Green heron Butorides virescens, Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis, Red-tailed hawk
Buteo jamaicensis, Scaly-naped pigeon Patagioenas squamosa, Ruddy quail-dove Geotrygon
montana, Puerto Rican Screech owl Megascops nudipes, Puerto Rican Emerald Chlorostilbon
maugaeus, Green mango Anthracothorax viridis, Puerto Rican Tody Todus mexicanus, Puerto
Rican Woodpecker Melanerpes portoricensis, Gray kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis, Puerto
Rican Flycatcher Myiarchus antillarum, Barn swallow Hirundo rustica, Northern mockingbird,
Mimus polyglottos, Pearly-eyed thrasher Margarops fuscatus, Black-throated blue warbler
Dendroica caerulescens, Elfin wood warbler D. angelae, Yellow rumped warbler D. coronata,
Northern parula Parula americana, Black and white warbler Mniotilta varia, Bananaquit
Coereba flaveola, Puerto Rican tanager Nesospingus speculiferus, Puerto Rican Spindalis
Spindalis portoricensis, Greater Antillean Oriole Icterus dominicensis, Puerto Rican Bullfinch
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