El Pastillo Conservation Trust is a non-profit organization established in cooperation with Puerto Rico’s Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA) to preserve the unique ecosystem found at El Pastillo Beach and its surrounding cliffs. The Trust oversees over 80 acres of land ceded by Royal Isabela to DRNA as a Zona de Separación de Conservación Ambiental (ZSCA).
Managed by a board of directors representing Royal Isabela, DRNA and the local community, the Trust operates through fundraising activities and donations from sponsors and individuals like you. The Trust also coordinates security for the ZSCA with state, local and private law enforcement agencies to maintain the integrity of the zone and ensure the safety of the general public.
The Trust’s four initiatives are to:
- PROTECT wildlife, including marine turtles that nest in El Pastillo and the endangered butterfly Atlantea tulita and Puerto Rican boa (Epicrates inornatus)
- CONSERVE native flora and fauna by managing invasive species, propagating indigenous plants and creating natural barriers against humans
- RESTORE areas that have been damaged by human activity or natural causes
- EDUCATE the public about the importance of ecology by creating informational materials and presentations, placing educational signs, fostering leading scientific research, facilitating student involvement and participation
In addition to being the custodian of this priceless natural resource, the Trust works to raise community awareness and involvement, insuring the enjoyment of this patrimony for many generations to come.
