Recovering Together
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Recovering Together Annual Report 2017 Recovering Together Annual Report 2017 2 Para la Naturaleza is a nonprofit organization that integrates society into the conservation of natural ecosystems. Its goal is to ensure the protection of 33% of Puerto Rico’s lands by 2033. Para la Naturaleza provides each person and community with transformative experiences in nature that inspire and motivate concrete actions in favor of its protection, such as doing volunteer work, donating money and land, or establishing conservation easements. The organization leads educational programming, volunteer events in citizen science or natural area management and fundraising initiatives. Mission Goal Para la Naturaleza also manages visitor To secure nature and human ecosystems We believe in the transformative power of within the islands of Puerto Rico and nature, its generosity, magnificence and centers and natural protected areas to inspire people to act as stewards of splendor. We believe that our progress nature and heritage, so that together we depends on making sure we protect throughout Puerto Rico, including may achieve our shared social, economic, and conserve it. Because of this, our and quality of life goals. common goal is making sure that 33%of Hacienda Buena Vista in Ponce, Hacienda Puerto Rico’s natural ecosystems are Vision protected by the year 2033. Currently, La Esperanza in Manatí and Cabezas de We can only achieve our full potential – 16% of the lands are protected. In 2015, both individually and collectively – if we before the establishment of a Land Use San Juan in Fajardo, among others. can sustain the ecosystem services within Plan, only 8% was protected. Our long- the islands of Puerto Rico and respect term objectives are ambitious, and we all forms of life with which we share our believe they are achievable if they were to natural environment. become a common goal. 4 5 Year in review throughout the islands, impacting over years to restore important ecosystems 01 04 20,000 residents by year’s end. In many that will help revitalize the islands. Alday-Jover Architects’ design for the The Land Trust Commission renewed cases, Para la Naturaleza provided Recovery of the Piedras River Meander Para la Naturaleza’s Accreditation the only supplies to reach certain and Historic Aqueduct won the American Seal, the highest mark of distinction in 10 communities. Para la Naturaleza, in collaboration with Institute of Architects, Washington, land conservation. The Seal certifies the University of Puerto Rico’s School DC Chapter’s Excellence Award in the our adherence to the highest national of Architecture, spearheaded a rapid Professional- Commissioned Projects standards for sound finances, ethical assessment of hurricane damages to category. conduct, responsible governance and 07 Para la Naturaleza worked with Puerto Rico’s declared historic sites, lasting stewardship. neighboring communities to remove called Mapa de Historia. The project fallen trees and debris, clear access assessed over 4,880 properties island- 02 roads, restore community gardens, and wide in just three weeks. Para la Naturaleza won the Environmental 05 recondition staples of these communities Champion Award bestowed by the The Para la Naturaleza Community such as schools, libraries, elderly homes Environmental Protection Agency’s Fund was launched in the aftermath and community centers. Region 2, in recognition of the of Hurricanes Irma (September 6) 11 For its post-hurricane leadership, organization’s “extraordinary commitment and María (September 20), gathering Caribbean Business named Para la to the protection and improvement of donations to bolster reforestation, Naturaleza one of “María’s Unsung environmental quality and public health.” community resiliency and sustainable 08 $253,000 were granted to 59 Heroes” in their 2017 Person of the Year agriculture in Puerto Rico. The Fund agroecological farmers to help restart edition. raised $1.8 million in a little over three production, return to local farmers’ months. 03 markets and promote sustainable Our new book, Acueducto: Historia del agricultural practices and the economy, Agua en San Juan was presented to an after the impact of category 5 audience of historians, architects and 06 hurricanes Irma and Maria. planners. The book contains 356 pages Para la Naturaleza shifted all its of vital research by Aníbal Sepúlveda on operations to post-hurricane recovery five centuries of efforts providing water to efforts and became a fundamental the capital city, which culminated with the relief organization, making over 700 09 A new reforestation program was construction of the San Juan Waterworks. deliveries of supplies —food, water and established with the goal of planting By year’s end, the book has been included filters, among other products— to over 750,000 native trees within the next ten in several Books of the Year lists. 100 communities and organizations 2017 Was a Year Like No Other Dear Friends, 2017 was a time of many The day after the storm, the island accomplishments and challenges woke up to a desolated scene: vital for Para la Naturaleza. The strongest infrastructures such as the power hurricane season in the history of grid and communication lines laid the Atlantic Ocean put to the test on the floor, water distribution the adaptability of our communities systems were out of service, airports and ecosystems. It gave us the and shipping ports were severely opportunity to manifest our damaged, homes and businesses response capacity, resilience and were destroyed, and the landscape social commitment as a nonprofit was entirely transformed by the organization. power of nature. On September 6 and September 20, It was impossible to continue two catastrophic hurricanes –Irma our lives as if nothing had ever and María- struck our region and happened. These natural phenomena change life as we knew it. With winds transformed our relationships with of 150mph, Irma hit the Virgin Islands nature, with each other, and with our and the municipality of Culebra, sisters and brothers in the States, while María crossed the main island refocusing our definition of what is from Yabucoa, in the southeast, essential and granting a new meaning to Camuy and Quebradillas in the to the word community. northwest. It was a slow path that lasted over 24 hours. María brought For Para la Naturaleza, the gusts exceeding 190 miles per hour, transformation was profound. 37.9 peak inches of rain, widespread In the face of a new reality we flooding and storm surges. Deadly proudly assumed a new role: the winds overtook the mountainous responsibility of assisting and region, while coastal communities supporting our own employees, experienced flooding at levels never neighboring communities, seen before. agroecological farmers, and our habitats. 8 9 10 11 12 13 Our Visitor Centers Became Hubs to Distribute Crucial Resources As an immediate response to the Communities received our staff with Up until December, over 160 communities devastation left by Hurricane María, open arms and hearts. Oftentimes, received water and supplies, as well as help to we paused our regular programming Para la Naturaleza’s deliveries were clear roads and remove debris. We distributed: and looked at ourselves, at our the only supplies to reach them. people, starting with our employees Julio Verdejo, community leader and extended families. Fortunately, and member of Cuerpo Consultivo our team members were safe. All para el Desarrollo de Río Piedras our staff received full support to told us in the aftermath of Hurricane meet their basic needs and assist María that “It’s moments like these their loved ones. While helping them when neighbors help neighbors, get on their feet again, we created and it makes me very happy that the the Para la Naturaleza Community communities in Río Piedras and Para Fund to extend our assistance to la Naturaleza are working together”. neighboring communities. In the face of current climate As soon as we were able to do so, we challenges, our commitment is to opened a collection and distribution build a long-lasting relationship center at the San Juan Waterworks. with those communities. We want Then, we turned our visitor centers to offer them lifelong opportunities into hubs where we distributed to connect with nature, reclaim crucial resources to our neighbors, their cultural heritage and develop including home emergency kits, sustainable agriculture, energy, and mosquito nets, solar lamps and water water supply models. filters. Our regional teams were active in the field delivering much needed supplies, like food and water. We also made an alliance with Tote Maritime, a cargo company 545 1,197 committed to offering the highest Packs of office & school supplies Cases of hygiene kits level of service. This alliance multiplied our institutional capacities 710 2,343 and provided relief to over two dozen Bags of grocery goods Cases of water communities located near Para la Naturaleza’s properties, as well 1,093 as to other communities in need Packs of security products throughout the islands. 14 15 16 17 18 19 A Powerful Volunteer Corp Showed Up Volunteers have always played an invest my available time in activities essential role in Para la Naturaleza’s that make a difference in the lives of projects. They have worked in human beings and in the recovery archaeological excavations, assisted of nature.” Ana has found that in the maintenance of tree nurseries, “volunteer work is necessary and helped to monitor sea turtles rewarding”. and migratory birds and started small reforestation projects. After Glorimar Vázquez and her brother Hurricanes Irma and María, their Gregory, volunteer leaders of our work has been vital to our struggling Map of Life program, also joined us at neighboring communities. the collection center. “As volunteer leaders of Para la Naturaleza, we Since the first days after the storm, come here every day with enthusiasm volunteers helped us establishing because we are committed with our collection center in the San Juan the recovery of our islands,” said Waterworks, which served as a hub Glorimar.