Cubas arid southeast turns green
- Submitted by: admin
- Environment
- Guantánamo
- Santiago de Cuba
- Science and Technology
- 08 / 14 / 2007
With scarce rainfall (the lowest registered in Cuba), poor quality arid soils, high temperatures and high evaporation rates the area is one of the most fragile ecosystems in the country with very limited conditions for agricultural.
The Cuban Ministries of Science Technology and the Environment, and Agriculture are implementing a number of projects aimed at reducing the effects of deforestation, over grazing and unsustainable agricultural practices.
The rehabilitation of this 68,000 hectares area with unique ecological and archeological value is becoming a reality; better farm management practices are being used, and there is an increasing environmental awareness among the local population.
The Southern Coast Forest Unit has a special role in the recovery of these dry lands. The group has just finished planting 13 hectares of Nim trees that are growing well in a part of Baitiquiri where nothing has grown in years, and have planted coconut trees and other coastal bushes at the Yateritas Beach dunes and brought back a mangrove ecosystem.
TOGETHER, JUANA ESTHER AND ANAELIS HAVE MORE THAN 40 YEARS IN THEIR JOBS DEVOTED TO THE TREE NURSERY AND FOREST REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN THE SOUTHERN COASTAL STRIP OF GUANTANAMO PROVINCE.
The 26 tree farms also play an important role in the reforestation process. Roberto Hinojosa Mestre manages 30 hectares in Bate Bate and is planting and developing his first fruit and timber yielding trees, and staring a nursery with several resistant local trees.
"I like the tranquility in these lands, the healthy environment and the possibility of developing a decent farm that will produce for the good of the family and the country," said Roberto Hinojosa Mestre, who lives in a house serviced by solar energy, provided by the Ministry of Agriculture.
THE ROLE OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
If there is a leading government organization in the rehabilitation of the southern coastal strip of Guantanamo, it is the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA).
EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL, SAID ROBERTO HINOJOSA, A FARMER WHO LIVES IN BATE BATE.
Among the most significant steps taken by CITMA was the creation several years ago of the Office for the Fight against Desertification and Draught.
The work includes the training of environmental activists, the creation of twenty five interest groups, as well as environmental commissions at dozens of schools. Also conferences and workshops are frequently held in the communities of the area and several multimedia presentations have been created in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education.
A project sponsored by CITMA made possible the reforestation of six hectares in Macambo, the place of Cuba with the lowest rainfall. Four hectares were planted with Jatropha curcas and the rest with fruit and timber-yielding trees.
The application of advanced forest management technologies allowed the planting of food crops, including root crops, grains and vegetables in between the trees, providing food for the local community.
Previously, CITMA specialists had established a permaculture farm at El Oro community, where they were able to produce soap locally using the oil extracted from the fruit of the Jatropha curcas trees.
Another project of reforestation by planting fruit and timber-yielding trees has the participation of the community, making possible its extension to more than 180 family plots as well.
WHAT ELSE IS BEING DONE?
Sonia Montes de Oca Lopez, a CITMA researcher reports that recently in the El Oro community, a protected crops infrastructure, was installed to produce fruit tree seedlings of a high genetic value.
She said they are also working on a project for a National Park of Managed Resources, and the installation of a small scale industrial facility for the production of a natural insecticide extracted from the fruit of the Nim tree.
Montes de Oca said that among the long term aims are carrying out an environmental diagnosis of Guantanamo Bay and its main pollution sources and the establishing an environmental monitoring station for the southern coast of the province in Tortuguillas.
Although there is still a whole lot to be done in this weak environmental ecosystem, the work of the state institutions in conjunction with the local communities has shown positive results. The greening of the Cuban semi-desert is a tangible reality.
Source: By Jorge Luis Merencio Cautín, Granma
The Cuban Ministries of Science Technology and the Environment, and Agriculture are implementing a number of projects aimed at reducing the effects of deforestation, over grazing and unsustainable agricultural practices.
The rehabilitation of this 68,000 hectares area with unique ecological and archeological value is becoming a reality; better farm management practices are being used, and there is an increasing environmental awareness among the local population.
The Southern Coast Forest Unit has a special role in the recovery of these dry lands. The group has just finished planting 13 hectares of Nim trees that are growing well in a part of Baitiquiri where nothing has grown in years, and have planted coconut trees and other coastal bushes at the Yateritas Beach dunes and brought back a mangrove ecosystem.
TOGETHER, JUANA ESTHER AND ANAELIS HAVE MORE THAN 40 YEARS IN THEIR JOBS DEVOTED TO THE TREE NURSERY AND FOREST REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN THE SOUTHERN COASTAL STRIP OF GUANTANAMO PROVINCE.
The 26 tree farms also play an important role in the reforestation process. Roberto Hinojosa Mestre manages 30 hectares in Bate Bate and is planting and developing his first fruit and timber yielding trees, and staring a nursery with several resistant local trees.
"I like the tranquility in these lands, the healthy environment and the possibility of developing a decent farm that will produce for the good of the family and the country," said Roberto Hinojosa Mestre, who lives in a house serviced by solar energy, provided by the Ministry of Agriculture.
THE ROLE OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
If there is a leading government organization in the rehabilitation of the southern coastal strip of Guantanamo, it is the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA).
EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL, SAID ROBERTO HINOJOSA, A FARMER WHO LIVES IN BATE BATE.
Among the most significant steps taken by CITMA was the creation several years ago of the Office for the Fight against Desertification and Draught.
The work includes the training of environmental activists, the creation of twenty five interest groups, as well as environmental commissions at dozens of schools. Also conferences and workshops are frequently held in the communities of the area and several multimedia presentations have been created in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education.
A project sponsored by CITMA made possible the reforestation of six hectares in Macambo, the place of Cuba with the lowest rainfall. Four hectares were planted with Jatropha curcas and the rest with fruit and timber-yielding trees.
The application of advanced forest management technologies allowed the planting of food crops, including root crops, grains and vegetables in between the trees, providing food for the local community.
Previously, CITMA specialists had established a permaculture farm at El Oro community, where they were able to produce soap locally using the oil extracted from the fruit of the Jatropha curcas trees.
Another project of reforestation by planting fruit and timber-yielding trees has the participation of the community, making possible its extension to more than 180 family plots as well.
WHAT ELSE IS BEING DONE?
Sonia Montes de Oca Lopez, a CITMA researcher reports that recently in the El Oro community, a protected crops infrastructure, was installed to produce fruit tree seedlings of a high genetic value.
She said they are also working on a project for a National Park of Managed Resources, and the installation of a small scale industrial facility for the production of a natural insecticide extracted from the fruit of the Nim tree.
Montes de Oca said that among the long term aims are carrying out an environmental diagnosis of Guantanamo Bay and its main pollution sources and the establishing an environmental monitoring station for the southern coast of the province in Tortuguillas.
Although there is still a whole lot to be done in this weak environmental ecosystem, the work of the state institutions in conjunction with the local communities has shown positive results. The greening of the Cuban semi-desert is a tangible reality.
Source: By Jorge Luis Merencio Cautín, Granma
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