REFUGIO DE FAUNA CUNAGUA

Description. A wildlife reserve on the north coast of east-central Cuba, with high animal endemism. Extent 8228 ha. 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, 101 (about 40 species endemic to Cuba); Bacteria, 0; Chromista, 0; Fungi, 0; Plantae, 353 (44 endemic to Cuba); Protozoa, 0. Numbers of endangered species: Animalia, 6; 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. Absence of field stations for monitoring and study within the reserve. A forestry system set up in 1985 which does not reflect correctly the situation on the ground. Insufficient economic and material resources, particularly for hard currency, and particularly for development of ecotourism and for scientific work. No programme of environmental education to train guides and forest wardens. Illegal hunting and felling. Human impact on the reserve, tending to reduce biological diversity. Inadequate protection of key ecosystems. Poor understanding of the dynamics of populations and biological communities. Harmful introduced exotic species. Under-developed nature trails for eco-tourism. Insufficient development of the ecotourism needed to finance reserve work. Poor signposting and poor communications facilities within the reserve.

Project work. A 142 page management plan was produced with support from the Darwin Initiative project Biodiversity Conservation in Cuba.