BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN CUBA
DARWIN INITIATIVE PROJECT (2001-2004)
A rest during field work in central Cuba [photo D.W. Minter]
Welcome
Welcome to the home page of the Darwin Initiative's three year project Biodiversity Conservation in Cuba, which began in May 2001. This website provides basic information about the project. Cuba is very special among countries of similar GDP: there is an excellent infrastructure and high levels of education and health. It is also very special in terms of its wealth of biodiversity: an astonishingly large proportion of the species found in Cuba are known only from that island. A severe lack of modern equipment is the limiting factor for those attempting to conserve these riches. The Darwin Initiative project Fungi of the Caribbean showed that even modest inputs to Cuba can produce impressive results. The present project provides practical help to Cuban nature reserve staff, scientists and other people working with biodiversity and conservation. It enables them to produce objective management plans for a wide range of nature reserves based, for the first time, on easy access to data. At the same time, thousands of biological records currently on paper are being computerized, and many more new scientific observations of neglected groups of organisms are being generated.
Contents
Objectives of project
- Seek freely donated computers, microscopes, cameras, video-cameras, literature and other reources, and send them to Cuban nature reserves and scientific institutions for in- and ex-situ biodiversity conservation (with any surplus going to schools);
- Organize workshops to train Cuban staff from at least 15 nature reserves in the production of management plans and computerization of their nature reserve data;
- Produce new management plans for those reserves;
- Computerize information about neglected groups of organisms in Cuba, using the information to produce conventional and electronic identification guides;
- Carry out intensive study of fungal biodiversity at three key sites in Cuba;
- Help to start a new Caribbean Fungal Identification Service.
Results
- By the end of May 2001, forty-four computers had been freely donated, collected, checked and packed at CABI Bioscience, and (through the kind assistance of the Embassy of Cuba in London and Cubana Airlines) transported to Cuba and safely delivered to the Cuban co-ordinator; on arrival they were distributed to Cuban nature reserves and scientific institutions.
Team
Collaborating Institutions
- BioNET-INTERNATIONAL, Bakeham Lane, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9TY, UK.
- Jardín Botánico Nacional, Carretera del Rocio km 3.5, CP 19230, Calabazar, Boyeros, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba.
- Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática, Carretera Varona km 3.5, Capdevilla, Boyeros, Apdo Postal 8029, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba.
Supporting Organizations
Contacts
