April Thomas, 206.321.3850, april.thomas@sierraclub.org
Nature Preserve in Puerto Rico Proposed for Sale or Lease
Communities Push Back Against Plan to Sell Public Lands to Highest Bidder
San Juan, Puerto Rico, -- Last week, conservation leaders in Puerto Rico learned that the island key of Cayo Icacos was advertised for sale or lease by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO). PRIDCO is “a government-owned corporation dedicated to promoting Puerto Rico as an investment destination for companies and industries worldwide.” PRIDCO released a listing of properties available for sale or lease that included Cayo Icacos, which prompted widespread public outcry and a demand for an investigation from the president of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives, Carlos "Johnny" Méndez.
PRIDCO has since clarified that the land is not available for sale, since it is a formally protected nature reserve managed by the Department of Natural Resources. It is, however, available for lease for “eco-tourism” purposes. Conservations leaders on the island believe that even limited use of Cayo Icacos would come at a tremendous cost to the fragile ecosystem of this protected public nature preserve.
In response, Jose Menendez, Chapter Chair for Sierra Club de Puerto Rico, issued the following statement:
“Puerto Rico is not for sale. The fact that our government-run real estate development corporation thinks it is acceptable to advertise an entire island key for sale or lease to private developers indicates that all our public lands and resources are vulnerable to exploitation in this crisis moment following the hurricanes. The PROMESA board wants to sell off our public electric utility to the highest bidder, privatize our schools, close our hospitals and rob us of our pensions. Apparently now the disaster capitalists have their eye on our public lands as well. We will not allow our island or our people to be robbed of our greatest assets in order to meet debt obligations to international banks.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.