Environmental Protection
& Ecological Maintenance

Tropic Ventures holds over half the property at Las Casas de la Selva in its natural state as a rainforest preserve.  This area provides a protected habitat for Puerto Rican native flora and fauna as well as a long-term study site for research and limited public and student familiarization in the areas of: ecology, botany, forestry, horticulture, soil, ethnobotany, and other related environmental disciplines. 

The property consists of three main watersheds two of which feed into the main water supply of the nearest town, thus making the good maintenance of these forest lands important for the water supply of the local population. 

Erosion protection is a high priority activity using, among other techniques, bamboo plantings to hold the slopes in eroded areas. 

Nursery and Sawmill :
To augment the sustainable forestry practices, there is a nursery area that provides protection for saplings being raised on the site. There is also a private sawmill operated under strict sustainable ecological guidelines. Facilities include a mobile sawmill, wood dryers and timber storage areas. There is also a fully equipped woodshop where a wide variety of high quality wood products, such as musical instruments, patio benches, clocks, maps and toys, have been produced.