RESERVA FLORÍSTICA MANEJADA SABANAS DE SANTA CLARA

Description. A reserve for plants in central Cuba: an area of serpentine soil with high plant endemism, largely surrounded by plantations of Eucalyptus, Pinus and Casuarina. Extent 7237 ha. Established in 1992. 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, 145 (at least 30 species endemic to Cuba); Bacteria, 0; Chromista, 0; Fungi, 0; Plantae, 495 (x endemic to Cuba); Protozoa, 0. Numbers of endangered species: Animalia, not known; Bacteria, not known; Chromista, not known; Fungi, not known; Plantae, at least 5; Protozoa, not known. Lists of animals and plants of the national park are included in the management plan.

Problems. Illegal hunting and felling. Non-sustainable recreational use. Destruction, degradation and fragmentation of habitats as a result of earlier forestry activity. Invasive harmful exotic species. Erosion of roads. Lack of transport for the reserve. Insufficient infrastructure for the reserve. Inadequate protection for the reserve. Absence of signposting on the reserve. Lack of ecotourist facilities.

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