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

REFUGIO DE FAUNA DELTA DEL CAUTO

Logo of the Darwin Initiative

Description. A wildlife reserve on the south coast of eastern Cuba, important for mangrove swamps and populations of crocodile and waterfowl. Extent 66375 ha (56384 ha terrestrial, 9991 ha marine). Established in 2001. 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, 191; Bacteria, 0; Chromista, 0; Fungi, 0; Plantae, 141; Protozoa, 0. Numbers of endangered species: Animalia, not known; Bacteria, not known; Chromista, not known; Fungi, not known; Plantae, not known; Protozoa, not known. Lists of animals and plants of the national park are included in the management plan.

Problems. Illegal hunting and felling. Difficult access to different sectors of the reserve, limiting the effectiveness of forest wardens and other staff. Agro-chemical contaminants, particularly from local sugar producing factories. Salinification of reserve lands due to sea incursion. Lack of a strategy and agreements regarding organisms needing conservation and management of resources of the area. Limited material and technical resources necessary to carry out the research the reserve merits. A low level of culture, science and technology in the local population.

Project work. A 121 page management plan was produced with support from the Darwin Initiative project Biodiversity Conservation in Cuba.


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