RESERVA FLORÍSTICA MANEJADA ALTURAS DE FOMENTO

Description. A reserve for plants in central Cuba, established in 1995, previously under local governmental care. Extent 220 ha. Established in 1995. 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, 300 (at least 3 species endemic to Cuba); Bacteria, 0; Chromista, 0; Fungi, 0; Plantae, 287 (at least 1 species endemic); Protozoa, 0. Numbers of endangered species: Animalia, 9; 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. Destruction, degradation and fragmentation of the area caused by historical forestry and grazing. Presence of invasive exotic species. Insufficient understanding of ecological processes. Contamination of the river crossing the reserve. Poor drainage. Lack of teachers to carry out environmental education. Illegal hunting and felling. Ecotourism under-developed. Reserve not properly signposted. Poor understanding in the local population of conservation. Insufficient administrative control of the reserve's buffer zone. Reserve office too far from the reserve. No field station within the reserve. Incomplete technical staff complementation. Insufficient training of technical staff. Poor maintenance of the perimeter fence.

Project work. A 96 page management plan was produced with support from the Darwin Initiative project Biodiversity Conservation in Cuba.