The Piñones State Forest has a variety of natural resources, one of them being the mangroves.

 

Mangroves represent 70 of the flora in this forest. Represented by 4 species : red mangrove ( Rizophora mangle) , white mangrove ( Laguncularia racemosa ) , black mangrove ( Avicennia germinans ) and button mangrove (Conocarpus erectus) .

This forest is part of the largest natural mangrove system in Puerto Rico.

 

Mangroves:

• They provide habitat for a wide diversity of wildlife and refuge for valued species for fishing.

•  serve as nesting place for a number of resident and migratory species.

• They are a source of organic and inorganic matter for marine species.

• Regulate surface flow of rainwater, thus reducing the effect of flooding and land erosion . 

• Serve as evapotranspirators and supply moisture to the atmosphere, thus being natural cooling source to the surrounding communities.

• They are sources of oxygen.