| Region: | Puerto Rico |
| Website: | http://www.drna.gobierno.pr |
| Native Lang: | es |
| Native Name: | Bosque Estatal de Aguirre |
| Location: | Guayama, Santa Isabel |
| Elevation: | 4feet |
| Area: | 2464acres |
| Authority: | Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) |
| Status: | Public, Commonwealth |
| Classification Wwf: | Greater Antilles mangroves |
The Aguirre State Forest (in Spanish; Castilian: Bosque Estatal de Aguirre) is a 2393acres nature reserve on the south coast of Puerto Rico and one of the commonwealth's 20 state forests. It mainly consists of mangroves and floodplain forests, and it borders the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The Aguirre State Forest is owned and administered by Puerto Rico. It was established in 1918 by Puerto Rico governor Arthur Yager to protect the mangrove forests areas between the municipalities of Guayama and Santa Isabel (Punta Petrona).
The forest is notable for its dense mangrove forests and salt ponds. As such it is an ecologically diverse area that is home to 13 species of reptiles, 4 species of amphibians and 3 species of bats. At least 184 bird species can be found within the forest and the area is an important bird nesting site. Some notable bird species found here are yellow-crowned night herons (Nyctanassa violacea), mangrove rails (Rallus longirostris), yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia), and endangered birds such as yellow-shouldered blackbirds (Agelaius xanthomus). Manatees can also be observed in the lagoons located in and around the forest.
The types of mangroves found within the state forest are white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa), black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) and buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus). Batis maritima, Sesuvium portulacastrum and Sporobolus virginicus are the main grass species found in the area, particularly around the tropical salt ponds.[1]
The forest is offers opportunities for bird watching, nature walks, camping and kayaking in designated areas.[2] Most of the visitors' amenities are found in Laguna El Toconal in Jobos, Guayama.[3]