Coastal Conservation in Cuba

Coastal Conservation in Cuba

This project focuses on the development and implementation of a Manatee Conservation Plan as a conduit to broader coastal conservation actions in Cuba. Since 2001, Wildlife Trust has been developing a successful manatee conservation program within Cuba that emphasizes capacity building, equipping local scientists from various coastal areas with the training to develop conservation actions aimed at protecting manatees and their coastal habitat.

Cuba may be ready to emerge from many years of relative isolation. On one hand, a lack of resources has largely prevented conservation work from taking place, but on the other hand, land development has not destroyed nearly as much coastal wildlife habitat as it has elsewhere in the Caribbean. With change in sight, it is imperative that Cuba has in place a cadre of trained and experienced conservation biologists to ensure that the economic development that may come, especially in coastal areas, does not come at the cost of Cuba's biodiversity. Wildlife Trust has provided internal and external training and resources, as legally possible, to our Cuban partners for many years to better ensure conservation success within their country.  We have assisted in developing external linkages within the scientific and conservation community for the exchange of information, ideas, collaborative projects and to promote inter-country cooperation. We now need to build on this foundation and continue to strengthen certain components.

Manatees have been identified in Cuba as a species of very special concern. Manatees are becoming iconic in Cuba representing coastal concerns and there is growing and existing strong interest in their protection.  Nationally, the public has been very receptive to any information on manatees and there is a strong perception that viewing manatees in some areas on the southern and northern coasts can help strengthen the emerging eco-tourism in the country. There is personal interest in manatees by Cuban officials at high levels of government. The government agencies responsible for manatee and coastal conservation are very interested in the results of our work, encouraging of additional research and what specific actions can be taken to ensure the manatee’s survival.  Conservation strategies and actions for manatees that are found in coastal habitats around the entire coast of Cuba will help to protect and manage a variety of coastal species.

Funder: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Partners: Sea to Shore Alliance

Publications