[4] The environment of the nature reserve belongs to the Puerto Rican dry forest and Greater Antilles mangroves ecoregions.

[5] Administratively, La Parguera Nature Reserve is intended to protect an ecological corridor between the Boquerón and Guánica State Forests.

The protection of several endangered animal species such as manatees (Trichechus manatus), Cook's anole (Anolis cooki), the Puerto Rican nightjar (Antrostomus noctitherus) and the Yellow-shouldered blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus) was another reason for the official nature reserve designation.

[1] Key plant species in the nature reserve include the almacigo (Bursera simaruba), bullet trees (Terminalia buceras), guayacan (Guaiacum sanctum), key thatch palms (Thrinax morisii), pink manjack (Tabebuia heterophylla), pipe organ cacti (Pilosocereus royenii), Turk's cap cacti (Melocactus intortus), and the endangered species guaiacwood (Guaiacum officinale), the sebucan (Leptocereus quadricostatus) and uña de gato (Pithecellobium unguis-cati).

Corsican-Puerto Rican businessman Don Francisco Antonio Mattey was the owner and proprietor of these terrains, and the cay Isla Mattei is named after him.

Human activity has also proven disastrous for the bioluminescence in the area with Bahía Fosforecente now being the most endangered and least preserved out of the three bio bays in Puerto Rico.