Shapefiles containing potential areas for agriculture, forestry, and conservation in Puerto Rico

This data publication contains five shapefiles generated in 2017, covering the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. Using information gathered from 2000-2016, these data were developed through geospatial analyses using a set of simple criteria to identify areas well-suited to mechanized agriculture, areas well-suited to non-mechanized agriculture on moderate to steep slopes, and areas suitable for forestry practices, including timber harvest potential, where greater forest cover has benefits in terms of soil conservation and water management. These are steeper slopes where timber production may be integrated with agroforestry, shade coffee, non-timber forest product uses, or other forms of sustainable activity that maintain a high degree of forest cover. Also included are shapefiles representing conservation priority areas, and an impervious surface layer for Puerto Rico.
The data were created to guide land use decisions toward lands most suitable for agriculture, forestry, and conservation in Puerto Rico.
Original metadata date was 01/03/2018. Minor metadata updates were made on 03/20/2019.