Monte Choca State Forest

The Monte Choca State Forest (in Spanish: Bosque Estatal de Monte Choca) is a 244.6-acre (0.990 km2), tropical moist forest,[1] located in the municipality of Corozal in Puerto Rico. It is owned and maintained by the commonwealth of Puerto Rico and co-maintained by local conservation groups.[2]

History

Monte Choca State Forest was declared a state forest with law number 295, passed on November 21, 2003[3] and is located in barrio Palos Blancos in Corozal, Puerto Rico.[2] Gold was extracted from this region during the colonization of Puerto Rico by Spain.[4]

Area

Its area is about 244.76 acres and it is located at one of the highest elevations of Corozal.[5] A study to consider strategies for the development of ecotourism at Monte Choca State Forest was done by Ortiz Ramos Hecmarie in 2011.[6][1][7]

Flora

The area was previously used for the cultivation of minor fruits, which are currently in thickets and pastures. A total of 140 species were identified, mostly trees and shrubs. These were classified as endemic, native to the region, and exotic. Among the species of trees and native shrubs identified are Buchenavia capitata, Alchomea latifolia, Byrsonima, Casearia arborea, Cecropia Schreberiana and Miconia prasina.[4]

Fauna

The main birds found at Monte Choca State Forest are Vireo latimeri, Icterus dominicensis, Melanerpes portorricensis, Todus mexicanus, Saurothera vieilloti, Zenaida aurita. Amphibians found here are Bufo marinus and Leptodactylus albilabris. Reptiles found here are Anolis pulchellus, Ameiva exsul, Amphisbaena caeca, Alsophis portoricensis, and Epicrates inornatus.[4]

Activities

Photography, hiking, scientific research, and bird watching take place at Monte Choca State Forest. Youth camps are held at Monte Choca.[8]

The Civic and Cultural Recreational Club of Palos Blancos (in Spanish: Club Cívico Recreativo y Cultural de Palos Blancos) is in Monte Choca State Forest.[9]

See also

References
  1. Alexis Massol González (2006). Bosque Del Pueblo, Puerto Rico : Cómo la Lucha Antiminera Cambió la Política Forestal Desde la Base Comunitaria (in Spanish). IIED. pp. 52–. ISBN 978-1-84369-584-4.
  2. Adrian Hailey; Byron Wilson; Julia Horrocks (7 April 2011). Conservation of Caribbean Island Herpetofaunas Volume 2: Regional Accounts of the West Indies. BRILL. pp. 342–. ISBN 978-90-04-19409-0.
  3. "Ley Núm. 295 de 21 de Noviembre de 2003. Ley que crea Bosque Monte Choca del Barrio Palos Blancos de Corozal". vLex.
  4. "Bosque Estatal Monte Choca" (PDF). DRNA (in Spanish). Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources.
  5. "Aventura dentro por el Bosque Monte Choca en Corozal". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). 7 June 2015.
  6. Ortiz Ramos Hecmarie (2011). Estrategias para desarrollar el ecoturismo en el Bosque Monte Choca en Corozal, Puerto Rico. Universidad Metropolitana.
  7. Serafín Méndez-Méndez; Ronald Fernandez (14 July 2015). Puerto Rico Past and Present: An Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 193–. ISBN 978-1-4408-2832-4.
  8. "Celebran cierre campamento ambiental en Monte Choca". Issuu (in Spanish). El Vocero. July 4, 2013.
  9. "Acuerdos colaborativos" (in Spanish). DRNA. 27 May 2015.
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