Piñones State Forest, State forest in Loíza, Puerto Rico.
Piñones State Forest is a protected woodland area featuring an extensive mangrove system along the northeast coast that can be explored on foot. Multiple trails wind through different natural habitats, connecting visitors to coastal environments shaped by tidal waters and dense vegetation.
The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources established this area as a protected reserve to safeguard native ecosystems and their ecological balance. The designation reflected efforts to keep northeastern Puerto Rico's natural environments intact for the long term.
This forest serves as a gathering place where the local community practices traditional activities like fruit collecting and maintains connections to the land. The ways people move through and use this space reflect generations of knowledge about living alongside mangrove ecosystems.
The forest is accessible from PR-187 in Torrecillas Baja, where designated parking areas and clear signage mark the entrance points. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear on the trails and be prepared for humid conditions and insects depending on the season.
This forest shelters specimens of Schoepfia arenaria, a tree species with fewer than 200 known examples in existence worldwide. These trees remain largely unnoticed by casual visitors but represent a globally important conservation site.
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