Réserve scientifique naturelle Lagunas Redonda y Limón, Wildlife refuge in El Seibo, Dominican Republic.
The Reserva Científica Natural Lagunas Redonda y Limón covers 53 km² of coastal plain between the Cordillera Oriental and the Atlantic, north of the Miches–Nisibón road in El Seibo province. Laguna Redonda is bordered almost entirely by red mangroves and holds brackish water; Laguna Limón has a muddy bottom and floating mats of water lettuce and mosquito fern.
Created by Decree 1315 of 11 August 1983, the reserve had its conservation aims and definitive boundaries set by Decree 309 of 31 December 1995, which allowed artisanal fishing and coconut gathering under a management plan. Decree 319 of 1997 briefly reclassified it as a national park before being suspended, and Decree 14-99 addressed the long-running boundary dispute. The General Environment Law later ratified Decree 309-95.
The reserve's conservation rules, set by Decree 309 of 31 December 1995, allow artisanal fishing and coconut gathering under a management plan. Villagers reach Laguna Redonda via Los Icacos and Laguna Limón via Los Guineos, the two hamlets named as access points on the El Seibo–Miches road.
The reserve sits east of El Seibo toward Miches, with dirt tracks leading to the access points, so a vehicle with good ground clearance is a practical choice. The dry season is the most convenient time to visit, since the tracks are easier to handle and wildlife tends to be more active near the water.
Although the two lagoons sit close to each other, they support entirely different wildlife: Laguna Limón hosts freshwater fish and waterfowl while Laguna Redonda receives marine species through its natural opening to the sea. This side-by-side split of two separate water worlds within the same reserve is rare along the Caribbean coast.
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