From 1511 to 1935 the main land use in Sabana Seca was
agriculture. Initially sugarcane was the principal crop, but by 1776 other
crops, such as, coffee, cocoa, citrus, and pineapples were cultivated in the
region. One of the largest fruit 'haciendas' in Sabana Seca was the Burt E.
Stevenson plantation, which was located in what today is the north and most of
the south tract of the NSGASS. This plantation operated from 1910 to 1935, and
produced pineapples, oranges, and grapefruits, primarily for export to New York.
An additional 220 acres (89 hectares) of the south tract were part of the farm
'Central Juanita', which also produced similar crops. By the late 1930's, the
importance of agriculture declines due to a shift in the local Puerto Rican
economy toward small industry.
In 1941, the NAVY acquired these properties and started a series of
constructions and modifications of the land. From 1943 to 1951, the NAVY
converted areas of abandoned agricultural lands into military facilities,
communication installations, and a residential district. Smaller areas,
including abandoned valleys, were either left to reforest naturally or
maintained as lawns. In 1962, the NSGASS became the tenant organization, and, in
1971, they assumed the responsibility of protecting the natural resources.
In the North Tract (1937) sugar cane plantations dominated this area until the
late 1930's. Originally this area was covered with wetland forest, most likely
dominated by Pterocarpus officinalis. This area was deforested and canals were
constructed to drain the area for planting. After sugar cane activities were
abandoned, these areas have converted to grassland and herbaceous wetlands, and
the forest has only recovered along canals (1995).
Agricultural activities, even within the narrow valleys, are evident in the 1937
photograph of the South Tract. Karst hills were not used for agriculture due to
the severe topography and poor soils, but they were deforested for timber and
firewood. In contrast, karst valleys were used for cultivation. Soil and
nutrients from the surround hills were washed downhill by rainfall and deposited
in these valleys. This results in fertile soils appropriate for agriculture. In
the 1995 photograph, the land use of the same area has changed dramatically.
Homes have replaced the cultivated areas, and vegetation has recovered on the
karst hills and valleys. Although urban areas have increased between 1937 and
1995, the area covered by forest has also increased.
