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

REFUGIO DE FAUNA TUNAS DE ZAZA

Logo of the Darwin Initiative

Description. A wildlife refuge on the south coast of central Cuba, on the delta of the Zaza River. The very diverse coastal ecosystems support a rich fauna. Extent 6776 ha (6044 ha terrestrial, 732 ha marine). 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, 278 (37 species endemic to Cuba); Bacteria, 0; Chromista, 0; Fungi, 0; Plantae, 127; Protozoa, 0. Numbers of endangered species: Animalia, 11; 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. Sedimentation of reserve waters leading to channels becoming too shallow. Uncontrolled extension of mangrove swamp, limiting water circulation. Salification associated with death of mangroves. Illegal hunting and felling. Inadequate signposting of the reserve. No environmental education within the community. No field station within the reserve. Insufficient technical manpower. Lack of training of technical staff. No buffer zone for the reserve.

Project work. A 88 page management plan was produced with support from the Darwin Initiative project Biodiversity Conservation in Cuba.


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