The contamination level in the Cuban mountains has dropped by 7 percent last year, 2007, according to a report by the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment ''CITMA''.

The achievement is the result of continued efforts to preserve mountain ecosystems that house the widest biological diversity of the island, experts explained while presenting a review of last years in the sector.

More than 37 % of forest areas in the island are located in the mountain ranges of Guaniguanico (western region), Bamburanao and Guamuhaya (central), Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa and Sierra Maestra (eastern).

The rivers and tributaries that make up the largest water catchment areas of the country rise in the mountains.

Some of the actions that greatly contributed to a drop in pollution was the Turquino Plan focused on the socio-economic development of the mountains. The plan emerged in June, 1987, bringing benefits to 18 % of the national territory, one third of its forests and to more than 700,000 people to date.

Statistics show that 465,000 hectares of land were treated in 2007, meeting 90 % of the plan.

In spite of heavy rains that affected the region in the last few months, the production of organic matter increased to 6 million tons of earthworm humus, 12 of compost and 48 of bio-fertilizers, the report reads.

Likewise, some 14 million Cuban pesos had been invested in 2007 on the Soil Improvement and Preservation Program for the designing and implementation of the national strategy of education and information on climate change.

At the same time, studies of the threat, vulnerability and risks of natural disasters were carried out in the provinces Pinar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas, Villa Clara and the Isle of Youth.

(http://www.cubanews.ain.cu)