CEP Technical Report No. 36 1996

CEP Technical Report No. 36 1996: Status of Protected Area Systems in the Wider Caribbean Region
Country Profiles

(1) Totals have been adjusted to avoid double counting areas that are classified in 2 or more categories.

The 1959 Constitution declares that the state should protect national monuments, areas of outstanding natural beauty, historic, or aesthetic value for the benefit of the population. The first legal provision for environmental protection was the Reforestation Plan of the Revolutionary Army, Law 239 of April 1959, which proposed the creation of nine national parks and encouraged tourism. Prior to this no governmental policies for environmental protection or rational resource use existed. Cuba has undergone large-scale environmental degradation (Perera and Rosabal 1986).

In 1968 the Protection of Nature in Cuba project (La Protección de la Naturaleza en Cuba) was implemented by the government. It detailed policies for environmental and natural resource protection. The project recommended the creation of a number of protected areas in the form of a co-operative system, and marks the beginning of a concerted effort to establish national parks and other protected areas (Perera and Rosabal 1986).

In an effort to resolve environmental problems the National Commission of the Academy of Sciences (Comisión Nacional de la Academia de Ciencias) recommended, in Resolution No. 412, 1963, that the National Institute of Agrarian Reform (Instituto Nacional de Reforma Agraria) establish natural reserves (reservaciones naturales) for scientific research in forested areas that constitute the National Forest Heritage (Patrimonio Nacional Forestal). Scientific knowledge of natural areas was declared essential to formulate guidelines for rational resource use. Four natural reservations are delimited in the resolution, and prohibited activities given (Annex I). Responsibility for their management is transferred to the National Commission of the Academy of Sciences.

Act No. 1204, 1967 provides for the creation of the National Institute for Forest Development (Instituto Nacional de Desarrollo y Aprovechamiento Forestal, INDAF). The responsibilities of INDAF include formulating forest policies, implementing conservation regulations regarding natural resource protection, and proposing management strategies for wildlife in collaboration with the National Commission of the Academy of Science. Those reserves under the administration of the National Commission remained with the Commission.

Law No. 27, 1980 provides for the creation of a large protected area comprising several other areas with management category designations from inviolable protection to multiple use, called Sierra Maestra Great National Park (Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra), which is an extensive area containing a high diversity of ecosystems and natural resources. Nine management categories are defined in the area. Law No. 27 provides for the creation of a Governing Commission (Comisión Rector) specifically to manage the Great Sierra Madre National Park.

The Protection of the Environment and Rational Use of Natural Resources (Protección del Medio Ambiente y del Uso Racional de los Recursos Naturales), Law No. 33, 1981 is the principal legislative act currently in effect, providing the basis for protection and improvement of the environment. National conservation objectives are stated and include prohibiting deforestation, encouraging an increase in forest cover, and preventing pollution and degradation of natural resources. Provision is made for the creation of the National Network of Protected Areas (Red Nacional de Areas Protegidas) for the protection of flora and fauna, particularly endemic species.

Five categories of protected area comprise the National Network: national parks (parque nacional); nature reserves (reserva natural); national monuments (monumento nacional); fauna refuges (refugio de fauna), and "other categories" (otras categorías) (Annex I). Clear definitions of the management categories are not given, but management regulations and demarcation of boundaries must be detailed in the individual legislative acts providing for the establishment of each area.

The 1981 Law also makes provision for the creation of the National System for Environmental Protection and Rational Use of Natural Resources (Sistema Nacional de Protección del Medio Ambiente y del Uso Racional de los Recursos Naturales), with unifying policies on natural resource protection and a comprehensive system. It is composed of sub-systems for the protection of specific resources including the Subsystem for the Protection of Terrestrial Flora and Fauna (Subsistema de Protección a la Flora y la Fauna Terrestres), which comprises a large part of the National Network of Protected Areas. The institutes responsible for managing each subsystem are assigned by the Council of Ministers (Consejo de Ministros), a high level body of ministers from various governmental sectors. Co-operation between the institutes is encouraged.

Further details of the structure and function of the National System for Environmental Protection and Rational Use of Natural Resources are given in Decree-law No. 118, 1990. The governmental institutes and ministries responsible for each subsystem are stated, together with the principal objectives of each. Provision is made for the creation of an organisation with ultimate responsibility for the entire National System, the National Commission of Environmental Protection and Rational Use of Natural Resources (Comisión Nacional de Protección del Medio Ambiente y del Uso Racional de los Recursos Naturales (COMARNA), and details of its structure are given.

In 1994, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) was created as well as its Agency for the Environment which implements the environmental policies and management of the country. The functions of COMARNA are now assumed by this Agency.

Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention, 1983)

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, 1973)

Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere (Western Hemisphere Convention, 1940)

Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage, 1972)

Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP, 1981) and its Specially Protected Areas & Wildlife Programme (SPAW, 1990)

Latin American Network for Technical Co-operation in National Parks, Protected Areas & Wildlife (LAN-NPPAW)

National conservation policies were formulated and implemented by COMARNA this has now been taken over by the Agency for the Environment, which is vested with overall responsibility for the National System for Environmental Protection and Rational Use of Natural Resources. The Agency co-ordinates activities with 15 ministries and a number of institutions that are responsible for each subsystem within the National System, and ensures compliance with current environmental legislation so that national conservation objectives may be attained.

The Agency for the Environment comprises a President elected by the Council of Ministers and representatives from each ministry and institute responsible for managing the subsystems. At the local level, provincial environmental commissions (comisiones provinciales de medio ambiente), which are dependent on the Agency, assess ecological problems and promote protected area establishment and conservation programmes. The commissions are important in co-ordinating protected area management across the country (Perera and Rosabal 1986, Santana 1991).

The National Network of Protected Areas comprises conservation units from different subsystems for the protection of specific natural resources, in particular the Subsystem for the Protection of Terrestrial Flora and Fauna. The Ministry of Agriculture (Ministerio de Agricultura, MINAG) is vested with the responsibility for this subsystem which includes forested land, and for other subsystems such as soils, fisheries, and agriculture.

Management responsibility for the protected area network is assigned to the Agency's National Centre for Protected Areas (CNAP) in coordination with various agencies, as follows:

natural tourist areas to the National Institute of Tourism (Instituto Nacional de Turismo).

The Agency through CNAP proposes guidelines for the creation of protected areas, and each institute in coordination with CNAP is responsible for formulating and implementing management plans for their respective protected areas. A body of forest guards (cuerpo de guardabosques), under the MINAG, patrols protected areas and ensures compliance with environmental legislation (Perera and Rosabal 1986).

Policies for forest resource use are formulated by the National Institute for Forest Development (INDAF). Forested land is administered by the Forest Administration (Administración Forestal) within the MINAG. The Forest Administration is headed by a vice minister and comprises three departments, one for each of its functions: silviculture; protection of forests and fauna; and industrial forestry. A separate unit carries out forest inventories. In each province there is a forest department within the provincial offices of the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG 1991).

CNAP is currently the coordinator of the FAO Latin American Network of Technical Cooperation for National Parks, Protected Areas and Wildlife.

Details of non-governmental organisations working in environmental conservation issues are currently not available.

Topographically, Cuba may be divided into three zones: the plains (llanuras) occupying around two-thirds of the total land area; foothills; and the highland region, comprising isolated groups of mountains separated by plains, the highest of which is the Sierra Maestra at 2,000 m (MINAG 1991). The climate is tropical with annual rainfall around 1380 mm. Cyclones are frequent, particularly in October and September. Cuba is drained by many rivers and periods of extreme drought may occur during the dry season (MINAG 1991).

Cuba has the highest species diversity in the West Indies (Woods 1989), and the highest degree of endemism with over 50% of the flora and 32% of the vertebrate fauna unique to the island (Santana 1991). In 1988 about 73% of the population lived in urban areas, an increase of 10% from 1975 (MINAG 1991). Around 4.4 million ha are used for arable farming, and 2.4 million ha for permanent pasture (MINAG 1991). Further details of land use are currently not available.

In the late 1800's, forests covered 56% of the island, but by 1959, only 14% remained (Santana 1991). When the revolutionary government took power in 1959 the Reforestation Plan was implemented to reduce the deforestation rate and encourage plantations. As a result, forest cover has increased to 18% of the total area and Cuba has one of the lowest annual deforestation rates in Latin America, at only 0.9% (MINAG 1991, Santana 1991, WRI 1994). Further developments in the forestry sector include the creation of a System of Forest Protection (Sistema de Protección Forestal) with a body of more than 2,000 forest guards (MINAG 1991). Although forest cover has increased, only around 20% of total land area remains in its natural state (Perera and Rosabal 1986). However, information exists that points to increasing deforestation as a result of expanding agricultural activities, industrial forest exploitation, and domestic use of wood as a fuel substitute. The Plan Turquino, enforced by the government to promote agricultural self-sufficiency among rural population, has caused non-selective felling and shifting cultivation.

The first national park was created in 1930, and by 1959 five more protected areas had been established (Santana 1991). In 1959 alone a further five parks were created and by 1991 the National Network of Protected Areas comprised over 200 conservation units, covering 12% of total land area (Santana 1991). Data in this report indicate that 65 areas have been established covering nearly 2 million ha, 18% of the national territory. Over 50% of these areas include marine or coastal resources.

As of 1991, 5.1% of forested land was covered by national parks, and a further 59.5% was under protection by other designations (Santana 1991). A further 1.6 million ha were protected as protection forests (bosques protectores) which are set aside to conserve natural areas and fauna, protect water and soil resources, or prevent coastal erosion (MINAG 1991). A problem with forest conservation is that almost all forested land has suffered some degree of degradation, and many areas are in urgent need of restoration (MINAG 1991).

Cuba has a coherent national system of protected areas, following the definition given by the FAO Latin American Network programme (Ormazábal 1988). The National Network of Protected Areas in Cuba was established in 1981, and implements the principles of the programme to attain national objectives (Perera 1986, Perera and Rosabal 1986). The National Network is coordinated and managed by CNAP of the Ministry of the Environment.

Almost all ecosystems are included in the national network, with only 2% not represented at all (Perera 1988, Perera and Rosabal 1986). Despite protection, many wild flora and fauna, and ecosystems are threatened by over-exploitation and habitat modification in protected areas with less stringent controls (Santana 1991).

A large-scale environmental education project has been implemented in Sierra Maestra Great National Park. It covers both government and privately-owned land, and is effectively managed as a multiple-use reserve, comprising a protected rural zone (zona rural protegida), and three other national parks. In total, nine management categories are employed within its boundaries, from inviolable reserve to development and economic exploitation areas. Around 200,000 people live in Sierra Maestra Great National Park. The project provides incentives for local populations to farm in a sustainable way, so as to reduce environmental degradation and deforestation (Santana 1991).

The Forestry Action Plan for Cuba (Plan de Acción Forestal para Cuba) was initiated in 1989 by the Ministry of Agriculture (Ministerio de Agricultura, MINAG) and other organisations with interest in the forestry sector to interpret the global designs of the TFAP into specific national needs (MINAG 1991). The plan comprises several projects which include sustainable management of forest ecosystems, such as mangroves, supporting conservation programmes, and improving the management capacity of the forest institutes (MINAG 1991). Information on the extent of implementation of this plan is not currently available.

Compliance with resource regulations, through the body of forest guards, affords efficient protection to natural areas. However, co-operation between the administrators of the areas that comprise the National Network of Protected Areas must be achieved through the establishment of legal regulations (Perera and Rosabal 1986). Clear definitions of the existing management categories and creation of new ones are required. The present designations are primarily suitable for terrestrial ecosystems, but modifications are needed to protect marine and coastal habitats (Perera 1988).

Impacts from agricultural activities, pesticide use, commercial forest exploitation, tourism development and projects as the proposed hydropower within the Cuchillas del Toa Biosphere Reserve are threatening natural resources within the country's protected areas. Due to Cuba's economic crisis these projects are undertaken largely ignoring conservation aspects (Wotzkow 1994).

Ministerio de Ciencia, Technologia y Medio Ambiente (CITMA), Agencia de Medio Ambiente (AMA), Calle 18A #4114 entre 43 y 47, Playa, CP 11300, LA HABANA Tel: (53-7) 3305600 (53-7) 337084 Fax: (53-7) 330559

Comisión Rectora del Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra, Ave. 42, No. 514 esq. A 7a., Miramar, Playa, CIUDAD DE LA HABANA (Tel: 222526/27/28/29; Tlx: 0511156)

Academia de Ciencias de la República de Cuba, Calle 11, No. 514 esq. D y E, Vedado, CIUDAD DE LA HABANA (Tel: 329786\322035\321108)

Instituto Nacional de Desarrollo y Aprovechamiento Forestales (INDAF), Virtudes 680 y Belascoain, CIUDAD DE LA HABANA

Centro Nacional de Areas Protegidas (CNAP), Calle 18A #4114 entre 43 y 47, Playa, CP 11300, LA HABANA Tel: (53-7) 330748 Fax: (53-7) 330748

MINAG (1991) Plan de acción forestal para Cuba, documento base. Ministerio de la Agricultura, C. de la Habana. 58 pp.

Ormazábal, C. (1988) Sistemas nacionales de áreas silvestres protegidas en América Latina. Basado en los resultados del taller sobre planificación de sistemas nacionales de áreas silvestres protegidas, Caracas, Venezuela, 9-13 junio 1986. Oficina regional de la FAO para América Latina y el Caribe, Santiago, Chile. 205 pp.

Perera, A. (1986) Panorámica de las áreas protegidas en la República de Cuba. Conservando el patrimonio tural de la región Neotropical. Proceedings of the 27th Working Session of the IUCN Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas, Bariloche, Argentina. 55 pp.

Perera, A. and Rosabal, P. (1986) Las áreas protegidas en Cuba. Silvestres 2:13-17. Oficina regional de la FAO para América Latina y el Caribe, Santiago, Chile.

Perez (1988) Manejo de áreas protegidas costeras tropicales. Informe del taller internacional sobre manejo de áreas protegidas costeras tropicales, Monte Cristi, República Dominicana, 20-24 julio 1987. Oficina a regional de la FAO para América Latina y el Caribe, Santiago, Chile. pp. 17-22.

Santana, E. (1991) Nature conservation and sustainable development in Cuba. Conservation Biology 5:13-16.

Definition of protected area designations, as legislated, together with authorities responsible for their administration.

Brief description: Delimits four natural reserves giving details of their conservation objectives and prohibited activities. The importance of natural resource conservation is stated.

Administrative authority: Reserves are established by the Instituto Nacional de Reforma Agraria (National Institute of Agrarian Reform), on the recommendation of the Comisión Nacional de la Academia de Ciencias de la República de Cuba (National Commission of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Cuba). The latter is responsible for administering the reserves.

Reservación Natural (Natural Reserve) A natural area that has not been altered by human activity (or has been altered in such a way that recuperation of its natural state is possible) that is set aside for the purpose of scientific research on the conservation and regeneration of its natural resources. The area is part of the Patrimonio Forestal Nacional (National Forest Heritage). Contains representative examples of national vegetation formations or important natural ecosystems. Humans, domestic animals and vehicles are not permitted to enter delimited area without authorisation. Prohibited activities include hunting, fishing and anything that disturbs the natural state of the area.

Title: Protección del Medio Ambiente y del uso Racional de los Recursos Naturales (Protection of the Environment and Rational use of Natural Resources) Law No. 33

Brief description: National conservation objectives are given as protecting and regenerating natural resources; encouraging development while maintaining conservation principles; promoting scientific research; and establishing methods of rational resource use. It is the obligation of every individual and the state to protect the environment. Each natural resource is dealt with separately and guidelines given for its rational use. Provision is made for the creation of the Red Nacional de Areas Protegidas (National Network of Protected Areas) for the protection of flora and fauna, and for the creation of the Sistema Nacional de Protección del Medio Ambiente y del Uso Racional de los Recursos Naturales (National System for Environmental Protection and Rational Use of Natural Resources) to co-ordinate and standardise environmental policies. It comprises subsystems, including the Subsistemas de Protección a la Flora y la Fauna Terrestres (Subsystem for the Protection of Terrestrial Flora and Fauna), which makes up a large part of the National Network of Protected Areas.

Administrative authority: The National System for Environmental Protection and Rational Use of Natural Resources is administered by Administración Central del Estado (Central Administration of the State) and each subsystem has its own organisation of Central Administration. The Subsystem for the Protection of Terrestrial Flora and Fauna is managed by the Ministerio de Agricultura (Ministry of Agriculture) (MINAG). Protected areas comprising the National Network are declared by the Consejo de Ministros (Council of Ministers) which assigns responsibility for their administration to respective organisations.

The National Network of Protected Areas comprises the following management categories:

Parque Nacional (National Park); Reserva Natural (Natural Reserve) Monumento Nacional (National Monument); Refugio de Fauna (Faunal Refuge) and Otras Categorías (Other Categories).

Precise delimitation and regulations regarding resource use must be given for each area. The regulations are to enable the area to attain the conservation objectives for which it was established, as determined by its designation. Commercial and sport hunting, fishing or capture of wildlife is prohibited. Deforestation is prohibited, although the Council of Ministers may authorise controlled socio-economic development of forest resources. Further details of management categories are not given.

Name of area	IUCN & National Mgmt. Categories		Presence of Marine or Coastal Zones	Area ha	Year Established
Cabo Corrientes	I	NR	YES	1,578	1963
Cupeyal del Norte	I	NR		10,260	1980
El Veral	I	NR	YES	7,535	1963
Imías	I	NR	YES	2,600	not avail.
Jaguaní	I	NR		4,932	1963
Loma de la Mensura	I	NR		2,400	not avail.
Tacre	I	NR	YES	1,200	not avail.
Alto de Iberia	I	FR		5,673	1987
Cayo Cantiles	I	FR	YES	3,800	1986
Subtotal	9		5	39,978
Desembarco del Granma	II	NP	YES	25,764	1980
Gran Piedra	II	NP		3,354	1980
La Bayamesa	II	NP		16,500	1980
Pico Cristal	II	NP		15,000	1930
Punta Francés Punta Pederales	II	NP	YES	17,424	1985
Turquino	II	NP		17,464	1959
Viñales	II	NP		13,436	not avail.
Bahía del Naranjo	II	MNP	YES	6,800	not avail.
Cayo Caguama	II	MNP	YES	1,200	not avail.
Subtotal	9		4	116,942
Los Indios	IV	ER	YES	3,250	not avail.
Mogotes de Jumagua	IV	ER		400	1986
Punta Negra Punta Quemados	IV	ER	YES	3,972	not avail.
Arenas Blancas	IV	MFR		1,500	not avail.
Cayo Caguanes/Cayos de Piedra	IV	MFR	YES	1,500	1966
Cerro Galano	IV	MFR		2,770	not avail.
Cuabal Tres Ceibas	IV	MFR		370	not avail.
El Toldo	IV	MFR		5,638	1987
Lomas de Galindo	IV	MFR	YES	623	not avail.
Monte Ramonal	IV	MFR		2,572	not avail.
Pan de Azúcar	IV	MFR	YES	260	not avail.
Parnaso Los Montes	IV	MFR		9,500	not avail.
Cayos de Ana María	IV	FR	YES	6,900	not avail.
Delta del Cauto	IV	FR	YES	60,000	not avail.
Hatibonico	IV	FR	YES	5,220	1980
Las Salinas	IV	FR	YES	31,800	1936
Ojito de Agua	IV	FR		3,739	1987
Río Máximo	IV	FR		10,000	not avail.
Santo Tomás	IV	FR	YES	14,800	1936
Subtotal	19		10	164,814
La Isleta Nuevas Grandes	V	IMA	YES	13,000	not avail.
Subarchipiélago de Jardines de la Reina	V	IMA		30,580	not avail.
Subarchipiélago de Sabana Camaguey	V	IMA		178,908	not avail.
Subarchipiélago de los Canarreos	V	IMA	YES	33,110	not avail.
Cayo Romano	V	NP	YES	92,000	1986
Sur Isla de la Juventud	V	NP	YES	80,000	1992
Topes de Collantes	V	NP		12,260	not avail.
Cayo Algodón Grande	V	TNA	YES	3,600	not avail.
Cayo Coco/Cayo Guillermo	V	TNA	YES	32,000	1986
Cayo Gruz	V	TNA	YES	1,400	not avail.
Cayo Guajaba	V	TNA	YES	9,168	not avail.
Cayo Largo Cayo Rosario	V	TNA	YES	18,610	1986
Cayo Paredón Grande	V	TNA	YES	3,500	not avail.
Cayo Sabinal	V	TNA	YES	33,500	not avail.
Cayo Santa María	V	TNA	YES	6,250	not avail.
Covarrubias	V	TNA	YES	10,200	not avail.
Playa Cajuajo Boca del Yumurí	V	TNA	YES	5,500	not avail.
Playa Santa Lucía	V	TNA		1,100	not avail.
Punta del Este	V	TNA		5,300	not avail.
Subtotal	19		14	569,986
Cubanacán	VIII	IMA		7,164	1986
Escambray	VIII	IMA		187,000	1986
Gran Parque Sierra Maestra	VIII	IMA	YES	527,000	1980
Mil Cumbres	VIII	IMA		16,634	1986
Sierra del Chorrillo	VIII	IMA		4,560	1986
Subtotal	5		1	742,358
Baconao	IX	BR		84,600	1987
Cuchillas del Toa	IX	BR		127,000	1987
Península de Guanahacabibes	IX	BR	YES	101,500	1987
Sierra del Rosario	IX	BR		10,000	1984
Biosphere Reserves Subtotal	4		1	323,100

IUCN MANAGEMENT CATEGORY	No. of Protected Areas (PAs)	PAs with Marine or Coastal Zones	Extension
Category I	9	5	39,978
Category II	9	4	116,942
Category III	0	0	0
Category IV	19	10	164,814
Category V	19	14	569,986
Categories VI-VIII	5	1	742,348
Biosphere Reserves	4	1	323,100
World Heritage Sites	0	0	0
Ramsar Sites	0	0	0
Total (1)	65	35	1,957,178