Land-cover composition, water resources and land management in the watersheds of the Luquillo Mountains, northeastern Puerto Rico.

Abstract

An important element of the wise use of water-related ecosystem services provided by El Yunque National Forest, located in the Luquillo Mountains in northeastern Puerto Rico, is the facilitation of a clear understanding about the composition of land cover and its relation to water resources at different scales of analysis, management, and decision making. In this study we present the results of a site-specific analysis that identify and quantify the land cover of the watersheds of the main rivers that have their headwaters in El Yunque National Forest and relate land-cover data to three water-quality parameters. Based on the results, we identify watersheds where opportunities are present to engage in immediate actions to sustain water-related ecosystem services.To promote and facilitate knowledge and understanding about land-cover dynamics, watershed-related processes, and water conditions, we present our findings and analyses in a way that can be communicated to a broad range of stakeholders, highlighting the implications of land cover to ecosystem processes and water resources.

Citation

Heartsill Scalley, T.; Lopez-Marrero T. del M. 2014. Land-cover composition, water resources and land management in the watersheds of the Luquillo Mountains, northeastern Puerto Rico. Caribbean Geography 19:43-62.