On Thursday, December 1, 2005, President George W. Bush signed into law H.R. 539, the "Caribbean National Forest Act," which designates 10,000 acres of National Forest System land in Puerto Rico as the “El Toro Wilderness”.

“This forest, which was established by Theodore Roosevelt over a century ago, is vitally important to the people of Puerto Rico as a source of clean drinking water and recreational opportunities,” said William H. Meadows, president of The Wilderness Society. “The designation of the El Toro Wilderness will ensure that this one-of-a-kind forest is protected for future generations.”

The forest features 50 varieties of orchids and the Puerto Rican parrot, one of the ten most endangered birds in the world. Biologists estimate that this parrot’s population has declined from a million at the time of Columbus’s arrival to less than 100 today. The forest is home to 240 native tree species, more than are found in any other national forest.

Located 25 miles east of San Juan, the Caribbean National Forest (CNF) receives more than 10 feet of rain a year. As a result, the eight major watersheds in the CNF are able to provide water to over 800,000 residents. In addition, the CNF provides a variety of recreational opportunities to nearly 1 million Puerto Ricans and tourists each year.

For More Information

• Larry Romans, Consultant to The Wilderness Society’s Wilderness Support Center, 202-547-0538
• Michael Carroll, Wilderness Support Center, 970-247-8788