Deforestation in Cuba.

Centuries prior to the ruling of the Castro government, in the 16th century

precisely, 90 percent of Cuba was covered with forests. Agriculture Ministry officials in

Cuba revealed that the Castro government, in the last for decades, had sown 1.24

million acres of trees, of which were mainly derived from the mountainous zones of the

Sierra Maestra, Escambray, and Sierra de los Organos. This reduced Cuba's forest

cover to 53 percent and by 1960 it was down by 13.5 percent. Ultimately, mining,

farming, sugar planting, supplying timber and setting up cattle ranches, demolished

Cuba's forests over the centuries.

Deforestation, in any case, is both detrimental to the environment and to the

economy of Cuba. Forest products are extremely important to the economical well-being

of Cuba because they play a primary role in the production of tobacco, sugar, and citrus

fruits, a few of the island's main exports, as well as in construction and electrical and

telephone services. Above all, forests play a crucial role in the protection and

conservation of Cuba's natural resources and their contribution to improving the

environment as a whole.

In Cuba, there are approximately 40,000 persons who are employed in the

forest sector, which includes 1,200 professionals, 2,000 technicians, and 70 researchers,

to name a few. Since forests are a source of long-term employment, particularly in rural

communities, many people who work in the forest sector, who rely on forests as their

main source of income, find themselves facing the possibility of unemployment with the

onset of deforestation.

Currently, several initiatives are being undertaken to improve the issue of

deforestation. Current initiatives include a joint initiative of the Cuban and Canadian

governments as part of their cooperation program called the Institutional Strengthening

of the Cuban Forest Service Project. The organizations involved in the implementation of

this project are the Canadian Executing Agency (CEA) and the National Department of

Forests (Direccion Nacional Forestal - DNF). The long-term purpose of this project is to

contribute to the development of forest resources in Cuba for the benefit of both the

general public and the rural population whose income and survival is dependent on forest

products. The short-term goal of this initiative is to strengthen the institutional ability of

the forest service in the planning, coordination, supervision, implementation, and control

of forest-related activities and the capacity to involve and engage civil society, which

includes the private sector, farmers, and rural communities, in the responsible

management of forest resources.

A new law enacted in 1998 by the Cuban government, the Forest Law, was

also implemented in order to protect and preserve the island's remaining forests and

promote responsible and sustainable use of natural resources. The law states that

Cubans who want to cut down trees must get government permission first, in order to

prevent the overuse and misuse of Cuba's forests.

The Foundation for Nature and Humanity (La Fundacion de la Naturaleza y el

Hombre) describes itself as a cultural and scientific institution, with a civil and non-

governmental character, dedicated to research promotion of projects and programs for

the environmental protection on "its relation with culture and society." This particular

organization provides the people of Cuba with extensive training on environmental

issues, including deforestation and pollution, in attempt to "harmonize the relationship

between society and its environment."

Sources:

COSG Website - Organizations in Cuba: http://www.cosg.org.uk/fundacion.htm

CIA Website - The World Factbook:

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cu.html

Forests.org Website: http://forests.org/archive/samerica/cubadefo.htm and

http://forests.org/archive/samerica/cubarise.htm