Biodiversity Day in Guantanamo, Cuba

Rio Toa. Photo by Manfred Scholaen

 

According to Dr. Susanne Scholaen, Project Manager Welthungerhilfe, Cuba

The Biodiversity Day on the 22 May 2012 was based in Guantanamo, and in the communities on the borders of the Alexander von Humboldt National Park in eastern Cuba.

The Alexander von Humboldt National park was declared world heritage site in 2001. It encompasses 70,000 Ha, and is the central part of the larger “Chuchilla de Toa” Biosphere reserve. The water reserve from the Toa river is one of the eight most important drinking water reserves from Cuba. The park and the biosphere reserve is very rich in biodiversity and many species are only found in this place, and nowhere else in the world. One of the world’s smallest frogs is found here.

Various activities were prepared around this year’s biodiversity day.

  -  An exhibition on biodiversity was organized by the Natural History Musem in Guantanamo, presenting the importance of the existing Cuban protected areas.

  -  The theater group “Rio”reported on their 3-year long work in environmental education of children, youth and adults through theater, group workshops, music and poetry.

  -  For three days there have been theater plays, poems, songs around the theme of environmental protection presented by the children and youth of the communities on the border of the national park. On the last day prizes were handed out to the best event.

WHH

This year’s project was a joint collaboration of the Welthungerhilfe and its local partner the Cuban Association of Agricultural and Forest Technicians (ACTAF). Also cooperating, were the Cuban Ministry of the Environment (CITMA) and the Alexander von Humboldt National Park Management (UPSA).

For more information please visit: www.welthungerhilfe.de