Logo of Empresa Nacional para la Protección de la Flora y la Fauna

ÁREA PROTEGIDA DE RECURSOS MANEJADOS LA CAÑADA

Logo of the Darwin Initiative

Description. A protected area on the Isla de La Juventud, incorporating the highest point on the island, 303 m above sea level, also important for the visual quality of its landscape. Extent 723.35 ha. Established in 1985 following recommendations of the Institute of Botany (Academy of Sciences of Cuba) in 1979. Administered by the Empresa Nacional para la Protección de la Flora y la Fauna, Cuba.

Biodiversity. Numbers of species recorded in the management plan: Animalia, 35; Bacteria, 0; Chromista, 0; Fungi, 0; Plantae, 150; Protozoa, 0. Numbers of endangered species: Animalia, not known; Bacteria, not known; Chromista, not known; Fungi, not known; Plantae, not known; Protozoa, not known. Very basic lists of animals and plants of the protected area are included in the management plan.

Problems. Inadequate demarcation of tracks. Degradation of vegetation types through forest fires and poor felling policy. General reduction in habitats for animals. Poorly-defined and ineffective firebreaks. A lack of infrastructure to deal with management of the area. Absence of resources, equipment and material necessary for the prioritized activities. Environmental impacts of human activity, particularly road construction throughout foothills. Ruined buildings in the southeast of the area, particularly abandoned military constructions causing damage to soil and pine forests. Poor relations with bodies responsible for protection of the area. Insufficient revenue-generating tourism. Almost total lack of appreciation by the surrounding rural and urban population of the value of the area as a reserve.

Project work. A 78 page management plan was produced with support from the Darwin Initiative project Biodiversity Conservation in Cuba.


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