Strengthening the National System of Protected Areas

The objective of the full project is to conserve highly representative assemblages of four of Cuba's terrestrial ecoregions of global importance and classified as highest priority for conservation nationally and regionally. The Cuban archipelago harbors the greatest biological diversity in the Caribbean region. Given its insularities and threats, biodiversity conservation faces serious threats. The project would improve management of the National System of Protected Areas by addressing gaps and by supporting a number of site-based demonstration/investment activities geared to mitigating a cross section of threats/ risks and refining conservation practices and approaches. Key sites are: (I) Zapata Swamp; (ii) Guanahacabibes National Park; (iii) Pinales National Park; and (iv) Alexander von Hum bolt and Pico Cristal National Parks. Key project activities would strengthen (a) protected area operations and management, (b) coordination and regulation within the national system of protected areas; (c) the development of management strategies to control proximate threats to biodiversity conservation in protected areas through demonstration projects in key protected areas (e.g., control and mitigating impacts of agriculture and livestock activities, forest fires, illegal hunting, illegal plant collection, and wildlife trade, mining and other major development activities, and alien, invasive species); and (d) education and awareness outreach programs, visitation strategies compatible with PA carrying capacity. And, in particular, capacity will be developed in Cuba to manage protected areas on an adaptive basis so as to successfully contain both present and future anthropogenic threats and underlying issues.