Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas

Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas is a protected coastal and marine area in Barrio Canas on the south side of Ponce, Puerto Rico, encompassing mangroves, sand dunes, beaches, estuaries, marshes, open water, Laguna Las Salinas, and the waters and islands around Isla de Ratones and Isla Cardona. Conservation efforts beginning in 2001 led to hydrology studies, official evaluation, and legal protection on 9 August 2008 under Law 227. The reserve supports rich biodiversity, including numerous plant and animal species, resident and migratory birds, and rare protected species. Despite pressures from development and illegal dumping, cleanup and reforestation helped preserve one of Ponce’s most important coastal ecosystems.