History of El Yunque Forest
El Yunque Rain Forest, also known as the Caribbean National Forest, is one of the smallest forests in the United States National Forest System. The land has been called different things in the last 125 years, as the Forest has come under the control of different entities.
You may see the Forest referred to as Luquillo Forest Reserve, Luquillo National Forest, Caribbean National Forest and El Yunque National Forest. The Luquillo Experimental Forest refers to the research branch of the Forest.
You may see the Forest referred to as Luquillo Forest Reserve, Luquillo National Forest, Caribbean National Forest and El Yunque National Forest. The Luquillo Experimental Forest refers to the research branch of the Forest.
What's in a name?
"Yunque" comes form the Taino Indian word "Yuke", meaning "white lands", referring to the cloud-covered mountains. The Indians considered the mountain range within the Forest to be the sacred home of their supreme god.
Historic Highlights:
1898 - Puerto Rico passed from Spain to the United States
1907 - Named Luquillo National Forest under the United States
Department of Agriculture Forest Service
1935 - Luquillo National Forest is renamed Caribbean National Forest
1961 - Institute of Tropical Forestry is created
1968 - Research efforts began to save the endangered Puerto Rican
Parrot
1996 - El Portal Tropical Rain Forest Center opens
2002 - Congress designated parts of 3 rivers as "Wild and Scenic" (Rio
Mameyes, Rio de la Mina, and Rio Icacos) when it passed the
Caribbean National Forest Wild and Scenic Act of 2002
2007 - Caribbean National Forest is renamed El Yunque National Forest
2012 - El Yunque Forest is selected as one of 8 forests in the US Forest
Service to revise its land management plan using a new National
Forest System Planning Rule. New Rule focuses on collaboration
and stronger protection for land, wildlife, water, sustainable recreation
and other uses that support the economy of the region.
1907 - Named Luquillo National Forest under the United States
Department of Agriculture Forest Service
1935 - Luquillo National Forest is renamed Caribbean National Forest
1961 - Institute of Tropical Forestry is created
1968 - Research efforts began to save the endangered Puerto Rican
Parrot
1996 - El Portal Tropical Rain Forest Center opens
2002 - Congress designated parts of 3 rivers as "Wild and Scenic" (Rio
Mameyes, Rio de la Mina, and Rio Icacos) when it passed the
Caribbean National Forest Wild and Scenic Act of 2002
2007 - Caribbean National Forest is renamed El Yunque National Forest
2012 - El Yunque Forest is selected as one of 8 forests in the US Forest
Service to revise its land management plan using a new National
Forest System Planning Rule. New Rule focuses on collaboration
and stronger protection for land, wildlife, water, sustainable recreation
and other uses that support the economy of the region.