[NYTr] Cuba's Arid Southeast Turns Green

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Granma Daily - Aug 14, 2007
http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/english/news/art32.html

(See the URL above for photos)


Cuba’s Arid Southeast Turns Green

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY: JORGE LUIS MERENCIO CAUTÍN

Extending along more than 100 kilometers from the limits of Playa
Borracho beach in the province of Santiago de Cuba to Punta de Maisi,
Cuba’s easternmost point, the coastal strip of southern Guantanamo
Province has such a harsh climate it has earned the name of the Cuban
semi-desert.

With scarce rainfall (the lowest registered in Cuba), poor quality arid
soils, high temperatures and high evaporation rates the area is one of
the most fragile ecosystems in the country with very limited conditions
for agricultural.

The Cuban Ministries of Science Technology and the Environment, and
Agriculture are implementing a number of projects aimed at reducing the
effects of deforestation, over grazing and unsustainable agricultural
practices.

The rehabilitation of this 68,000 hectares area with unique ecological
and archeological value is becoming a reality; better farm management
practices are being used, and there is an increasing environmental
awareness among the local population. 

The Southern Coast Forest Unit has a special role in the recovery of
these dry lands. The group has just finished planting 13 hectares of
Nim trees that are growing well in a part of Baitiquiri where nothing
has grown in years, and have planted coconut trees and other coastal
bushes at the Yateritas Beach dunes and brought back a mangrove
ecosystem.

The 26 tree farms also play an important role in the reforestation
process. Roberto Hinojosa Mestre manages 30 hectares in Bate Bate and
is planting and developing his first fruit and timber yielding trees,
and staring a nursery with several resistant local trees.

"I like the tranquility in these lands, the healthy environment and the
possibility of developing a decent farm that will produce for the good
of the family and the country," said Roberto Hinojosa Mestre, who lives
in a house serviced by solar energy, provided by the Ministry of
Agriculture.

THE ROLE OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

If there is a leading government organization in the rehabilitation of
the southern coastal strip of Guantanamo, it is the Cuban Ministry of
Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA).

Among the most significant steps taken by CITMA was the creation
several years ago of the Office for the Fight against Desertification
and Draught.

The work includes the training of environmental activists, the creation
of twenty five interest groups, as well as environmental commissions at
dozens of schools. Also conferences and workshops are frequently held
in the communities of the area and several multimedia presentations
have been created in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education.

A project sponsored by CITMA made possible the reforestation of six
hectares in Macambo, the place of Cuba with the lowest rainfall. Four
hectares were planted with Jatropha curcas and the rest with fruit and
timber-yielding trees.

The application of advanced forest management technologies allowed the
planting of food crops, including root crops, grains and vegetables in
between the trees, providing food for the local community.

Previously, CITMA specialists had established a permaculture farm at El
Oro community, where they were able to produce soap locally using the
oil extracted from the fruit of the Jatropha curcas trees.

Another project of reforestation by planting fruit and timber-yielding
trees has the participation of the community, making possible its
extension to more than 180 family plots as well.

WHAT ELSE IS BEING DONE?

Sonia Montes de Oca Lopez, a CITMA researcher reports that recently in
the El Oro community, a protected crops infrastructure, was installed
to produce fruit tree seedlings of a high genetic value.

She said they are also working on a project for a National Park of
Managed Resources, and the installation of a small scale industrial
facility for the production of a natural insecticide extracted from the
fruit of the Nim tree.

Montes de Oca said that among the long term aims are carrying out an
environmental diagnosis of Guantanamo Bay and its main pollution
sources and the establishing an environmental monitoring station for
the southern coast of the province in Tortuguillas.

Although there is still a whole lot to be done in this weak
environmental ecosystem, the work of the state institutions in
conjunction with the local communities has shown positive results. The
greening of the Cuban semi-desert is a tangible reality.