Cuban Reforestation Program Moves Ahead

Contrary to the global trend, Cuba's forests increased in 2006, in an effort to preserve the ecosystems and biodiversity.

According to the Living Planet 2006 Report-the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) periodic update on the state of the world's ecosystems- Cuba is the only country in the world making progress on sustainable

development.

Just in the 20th Century, three quarters of the genetic diversity of plants were lost, and 1,350, out of the 6,300 animal species known, either disappeared or became endangered.

Over seven million hectares of woodlands, an area approximately the size of Panama, are lost every year.  Just in Latin America, forest areas dropped dramatically by 4.3 million hectares between 2000 and 2005, according to FAO- UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

While this is happening, Cuba has increased its forests to 24.54 percent of its total area so far, and aims for 29.3 percent in 2015.

Land previously used for sugar cane and coffee plantations, cattle raising, or simply taken over by marabou plants, has been turned to woodland.

The chopping down of trees for four centuries in a row cut down Cuba's forest reserves to an insignificant fourteen percent, a rate steadily being increased since 1959, after the preservation of woodland was amended to the Constitution.

Cuba News