National parks and biodiversity
The country safeguards around 22% of its territory in protected areas, where access is strictly regulated in order to preserve environments and species. The country's national parks include:
Alejandro de Humboldt National Park : named after the famous scientist and explorer Alexandre de Humboldt (who stayed in Cuba), the park, located to the east of the island, is a Unesco World Heritage Site, notably for its significant diversity of flora. Its forest is home to a third of endemic species.
Sierra Maestra National Park : protects the eponymous mountain range, the highest in the country, and its forest ecosystems, which are rich in biodiversity (birdlife).
Desembarco del Granma National Park : a Unesco World Heritage site in the south-east of the country, it protects remarkable limestone coastal cliffs. The Cabo Cruz terraces are a natural and landscape heritage unique in the world.
Viñales National Park (Pinar del Río): a Unesco World Heritage site, this park protects the country's entire agricultural valley and its remarkable geological heritage (caves, mogotes and limestone hills).
Guanahacabibes Peninsula National Park: located in the west of the island, the park protects the eponymous peninsula and its many archaeological sites.
Montemar National Park (Matanzas), formerly Ciénaga de Zapata Park: located on the Zapata peninsula, in the south-east of the country, and classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, it protects remarkable wetlands (vast marshes) and an important diversity of flora (over 900 plant species and nearly 200 bird species).
Bariay National Monument Park: located in the Bay of Bariay, it is home to the first site discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 (archaeological museum).
Caguanes National Park: located in Buenavista Bay, this park protects the ecosystems of the Cayos de Piedra (islands). It is home to mangroves, caves (Humboldt, Ramos and Los Chivos caves), archaeological sites and a wide variety of wildlife (bats, snakes).
Jardines de la Reina Nature Reserve: this protected area is home to the mangroves and coral reefs of the Jardines de la Reina archipelago.
The development of organic agriculture
The preservation of biodiversity goes beyond these conservation measures. The agro-ecological practices that have been in place in the country for some thirty years tend to maintain the dynamics of populations, including bees. In decline almost everywhere in the world, bees in Cuba are doing well, thanks to the absence of pesticides.
The US embargo, followed by the collapse of the USSR in 1990, led to a rapid agricultural transition in Cuba, which was deprived of agricultural equipment and chemical inputs. This was based on the implementation of agro-ecological techniques (i.e., the enhancement of ecological processes). This led to the development of local agriculture, including gardens and urban environments, based on manual skills and animal traction, which enabled us to feed people while respecting living organisms. In 2010, this agricultural transition was rewarded at the highest level when Cuban agronomist Humberto Ríos was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for his work on biodiversity and Cuban agriculture.
Cuba and climate change
Cuba is particularly vulnerable to climate change. This is reflected in the greater frequency and intensity of extreme events, including 9 very intense hurricanes in 20 years. Water scarcity and water stress could worsen. Rising sea levels, meanwhile, are leading to the risk of coastal submersion, with the corollary of accelerated erosion, the potential disappearance of 6% of the island's surface area, and the degradation of mangrove swamps - wetland buffers, reservoirs of biodiversity, water quality filters and coastal protection areas. Faced with this situation, the country has put in place a plan that includes actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Important measures include the development of agro-ecological agriculture, mentioned above, reforestation and water management (repairing leaky networks, improving supply and sanitation). Energy remains a key issue. Cuba, which is heavily dependent on fossil fuels (imported oil), is also planning energy efficiency measures for buildings and a transition to renewable energies. Rehabilitation of the electricity grid is also part of the action plan, as electricity transmission generates around 16% of line losses.
Travelling differently
It is possible to opt for a more sober and authentic trip, by favoring less impactful lifestyles, combining soft mobility, local hospitality and locavorism. You'll also want to make sure you use resources wisely, and avoid certain polluting products (sun creams with certain chemical filters, for example) or products that generate waste, such as plastic bottles or single-use plastics. It's perfectly possible to use soft mobility in Cuba. There is a rail network serving all the provinces. Every year, cyclos-voyageurs set off on their bicycles across the island. Cuba also offers a wide range of homestay options. Finally, you can enjoy organic and local food. Cuba is home to the international slowfood movement. Its aim is to promote "clean, fair and good" food that respects producers and the living world. It showcases local know-how and identifies approaches based on agricultural biodiversity and gastronomic traditions, such as Macabi fish balls (slowfood.fr). Because every gesture counts in the face of the ecological emergency, we all have a role to play both in our daily lives and in our travels.
