Dear [Senator],
I urge the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico's Senate to hold public hearings in May 2007 and approve House Bill 2105, which will designate all lands within the Northeast Ecological Corridor (NEC) as a nature reserve and promote its sustainable development as an ecotourism destination.
The NEC, comprising approximately 3,000 acres, is one of the Caribbean's last great-unprotected areas. Located on the towns of Luquillo and Fajardo, the NEC contains an extraordinary array of tropical habitats seldom found in other parts of the world. It harbors coral communities, mangrove and coastal pre-Columbian forests, a bioluminescent lagoon, as well as over 40 endemic and threatened species, including one of the most important nesting sites for the endangered Leatherback seaturtle in areas under US jurisdiction.
Due to its singular ecological value, the NEC has been proposed for its designation as a nature reserve by a wide array of Commonwealth and Federal agencies, as well as by U.S. based and international conservation organizations.
House Bill 2105 will not only help to guarantee the Corridor's natural integrity and the living resources that depend on it, but also foster its sustainable development by promoting the establishment of ecotourism and nature based tourism activities. This would help provide a much needed source of revenue for local communities, while diversifying Puerto Rico's tourism offerings for the enjoyment of its tourists and residents alike.
[Your comment]
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
