Ocean Conservation & Restoration
Ocean conservation and restoration requires dedicated efforts to safeguard and enhance marine ecosystems. Through sustainable practices, habitat protection, and active restoration initiatives, ISER Caribe aims to preserve biodiversity, mitigate climate impacts, and ensure the health and resilience of our oceans for future generations.
Coral Reef Restoration
ISER Caribe takes an ecosystem-based approach to improving the health and conditions of Caribbean coral reefs. Our approach goes beyond the mere restoration of corals; it emphasizes the repopulation of herbivorous organisms, which play a crucial role in clearing harmful algae from reefs. These organisms play an indispensable part in maintaining the overall health of the coral reef ecosystem.
Aquaculture
ISER Caribe's aquaculture program presently concentrates on cultivating Ulva ohnoi, widely recognized as sea lettuce. This seaweed is the preferred food source for many herbivores raised at our CIROM facilities, contributing to our coral reef restoration initiatives. Looking ahead, ISER aspires to broaden its aquaculture programs by incorporating additional seaweed species and other marine organisms in the future!
Fisheries
The fisheries of the Caribbean are both diverse and crucial to the region's economy, food security, and cultural heritage. Initiatives like those undertaken by ISER Caribe, focus on implementing a range of strategies for fisheries management. By supporting livelihoods, enhancing food security, and safeguarding marine ecosystems, these efforts strive to secure a prosperous and thriving future for generations to come.
Climate Justice
In the Caribbean, climate justice entails addressing the disproportionate
impact of climate change on vulnerable communities, advocating for equitable adaptation and mitigation strategies, and fostering resilience in the face of environmental challenges to ensure a fair and sustainable future for all.
Mangrove Nursery
Mangroves are vital ecosystems that protect coastlines from erosion, support biodiversity, and act as powerful carbon sinks, sequestering carbon dioxide at rates up to four times greater than terrestrial forests. In Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean, mangroves are increasingly threatened by coastal development, pollution, and sea level rise. ISER Caribe developed a Mangrove Nursery at its CIROM facility in Ceiba, Puerto Rico to propagate native mangrove species (Rhizophora mangle) for use in local restoration projects.
Clean Energy
ISER Caribe is carrying out a renewable energy initiative in Cabo Rojo to develop the community base necessary for a long-term energy transition project. This initiative seeks to include multiple civil sectors. The short-term goal is to establish a solar community in the urban center and adjacent communities of Cabo Rojo to guide the development of an electric microgrid. The eventual long-term goal is to develop an energy cooperative that expands its services beyond the urban center of Cabo Rojo.
DRRUM
The Dust, Rainfall, & Reefs- Understanding the Mechanisms (DRRUM) project will investigate the linkages between Saharan dust, rainfall, and the connections/impacts on Puerto Rico’s coral reefs and society. The project led by PI Dr. Nathan Hosannah, and Co-PI Dr. Ryan Mann-Hamilton was selected as a recipient of an NSF NCAR Collaborative Opportunities for Research Engagement (CORE) award.
Educational Experiences
ISER Caribe offers educational experiences for study abroad
graduate and undergraduate students to pursue field-based
research in tropical terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems.
Educational Experiences - Study Abroad
ISER Caribe offers immersive undergraduate and graduate study abroad experiences, exploring Puerto Rico’s diverse ecosystems from reef to ridge. Students engage with experts in marine ecology, forest ecology, renewable energy, and community development through hands-on learning in Ceiba and La Parguera. These programs provide direct exposure to coral reefs, mangroves, tropical forest ecosystems, and sustainable energy initiatives while fostering community engagement. ISER Caribe ensures seamless trip coordination and logistics, allowing participants to focus on transformative field experiences. By integrating science, conservation, and local knowledge, ISER Caribe’s programs cultivate a deeper understanding of ecological and social resilience in the Caribbean.
Community Outreach & Support
ISER Caribe’s community outreach program connects with and serves communities through targeted activities, events, or services. These programs aim to build positive relationships, address community needs, and promote mutual understanding, fostering a sense of collaboration and support for the overall well-being and development of the community.
Nursery Tours
ISER Caribe offers guided tours of the Centro de Investigación y Restauración de Organismos Marinos (CIROM) facilities where we grow corals and herbivores such as crabs and sea urchins for coral reef restoration. This immersive experience, suitable for all, offers a firsthand exploration of marine biology at our nurseries.
Montessori Internships
ISER Caribe’s Montessori Internship Program is a transformative experience for middle to high school students of the Alejandro Tapia y Rivera Montessori School. Through a semester-long commitment, students not only gain practical experience in coral and sea-urchin husbandry but also engage in meaningful research projects, fostering a deep understanding of marine ecosystems.
Fiscal Sponsorship Groups
ISER Caribe provides fiscal sponsorship for various community groups including, Taller Libertá in Mayagüez, Centro de Apoyo Mutuo (CAM) Jíbaro - Bartolo Lares, Centro de Apoyo Mutuo (CAM) Bartolo Lares, Centro de Apoyo Mutuo (CAM) Utuado, and Coalición Restauración Ecosistemas Santurcinos (CRES PR). Fiscal sponsorship is a legal and financial arrangement in which a nonprofit organization, known as the fiscal sponsor, provides support and oversight to another project, initiative, or individual that lacks its own tax-exempt status.
Disaster Relief Efforts
We organized and implemented an extensive emergency relief campaign during the environmental and social hazards created by Hurricanes Irma and María and the earthquakes in the southwest of Puerto Rico. ISER Caribe distributed more than 3000 solar powered lamps and water filters. In addition, we also distributed more than 75,000 lbs. of primary necessity articles such as water filters, solar lights, food, etc.