Puerto Rico

This article highlights key female figures in Puerto Rico’s environmental movement, who are working to ensure cleaner, stronger communities and protect vulnerable ecosystems. It presents a photo essay and oral history project by women activists and the 9 Millones group. These women have been leading community and environmental rebuilding efforts in the wake of Hurricane María, which ravaged Puerto Rico in late 2017. Their projects span agroecology, sustainable food production, marine education, and fighting beach privatization. Anabela Fuentes García, for example, teaches sustainable fishing and beach management to local children in her coastal town. Mariangelie Ortiz organized her community after Hurricane María and now fights bureaucracy to allow for local activism and change. Her design lab, La Maraña facilitates community participation in the rebuilding efforts. “Food liberates people," says Marissa Reyes, who is using agroecology to push for nutrition, education and greater food sovereignty for Puerto Ricans through the Güakiá Agroecological Collective. Ada Ramona Miranda is promoting health, clean energy, and ecotourism through her Hacienda Las Malcriá project. Yvette Nuñez, with a background in anthropology and urban planning, founded the Coalición Restauración Ecosistemas Santurcinos (CRES) which restores local ecosystems and creates healthy community spaces. Mariolga Reyes Cruz works to uplift communities and foster agency through actions that build food sovereignty, aiming to “decolonize our relationship with the land” through her initiative, Fideicomiso de Tierras Comunitarias para la Agricultura Sostenible. Vanessa Uriarte uses education and advocacy to engage the local community through building Playas pa’l Pueblo (beaches for the people); coastal community forests and spaces. Collectively, these women have helped reconstruct and revitalize both their environment and communities while enhancing citizen participation in design, activism, and rehabilitation projects.