宮城教育大学 環境教育研究紀要

第 19 巻 (2017)

Endangered Species, Protected Areas, and Tourism in Cuba
Lazaro M. Echenique-Diaz* and Koji Mizota*
Abstract: Protected areas in Cuba cover a large proportion of natural ecosystems and endangered
species’distribution, bringing also opportunities for ecological tourism to flourish in the country.
However, tourism can have a negative impact on the conservation of endangered species andinformation that helps identify threats to biodiversity should be disseminated.
Keywords: Protected areas, Polymita , Crocodile

Introduction

for Protected Areas and other research institutions in

By 1959, the territory of Cuba was covert by less thanCuba indicates that, for some faunal groups, there are still

14% of its original forest, and as a consequence many

significant populations outside protected areas (CNAP

plant and animal species had suffered a significant

2009).

reduction in their geographical distribution andpopulations number (CNAP 2004). A series of reforms

Species and populations not represented on SNAP are

and laws approved after the Cuban revolution such as

at risk, no question about it. But, how well protected areLaw 239, which aimed at preserving and enhancing theendangered species within this system of conservation?

forestry resources of the country, started to change theThis small report consists on a few pictures and a video

tide in habitat loss, and significant advances in naturelink shared to raise awareness about the threats toconservation in the years that followed had resulted inendangered species. Tourism has become one of the main

the creation of the National System of Protected Areas

sources of income in Cuba, and its effects on species(SNAP) (CNAP 2004). This system is very complex given

conservation cannot be ignored. The images shared here

the large number of different governmental organizations

are a remainder that conservation is a complex issue withinvolved in administration and management, and themany socio-economical edges. Aldo Leopold wrote incomplexities and variety of areas to protect. In fact, less

1941“I am convinced that most Americans have no idea

than 50% of all protected areas that had been proposed

what a decent forest looks like. The only way to tell them

to form part of SNAP are legally approved (CNAP

is to show them”(Leopold 1991). The same reasoning2009), even though a much larger proportion is actually

can be applied when we try to educate people on threatsadministered by government institutions. There are

to biodiversity, we must show them.

different factors that affect the inclusion of an area in
SNAP, such as the presence of an endemic species,

Polymita, the most beautiful land snail in theunique landscape formations, or significant ecologicalworldfunctions. However, given the high degree of habitat

Polymita is an endemic group of land snail endemic tofragmentation and complexity of Cuban anthropogenicEastern Cuba. The 6 species composing this group hadlandscapes, it is still difficult to cover all species orsuffered extreme reduction in population size as theyecosystems within SNAP. As a matter of fact, GAP

had been historically commercialized due to the beauty

Analysis conducted by specialist at the National Centerof their shells. Nowadays they continue to be sold to* Environmental Education Center, Miyagi University of Education. Sendai, Japan－ 39 －

Endangered Species, Protected Areas, and Tourism in Cuba.

tourists, who pose the biggest threat to the species.

The Cuban Crocodile

Tourists could have a significantly positive impact inZapata Swamp National Park (Figure 3) in Western Cuba

the conservation of Polymita snails by choosing not tois home to an endemic species of crocodile, Crocodylus

buy them. The protected areas that are mainly affectedrhombifer . Illegal hunting is the main threat to theby this issue are Alejandro de Humboldt National Park,

species as its meat is sold to restaurants around thenature reserve Cañon del Yumuri, and nature reserve

region. Typical Cuban restaurants called Paladares”sellPunta Maisi, in Guantanamo province (figures 1 and 2).

the meat as a delicatessen and for a price mainly tourists
can afford. As legal actions are taken upon those caught
hunting or selling the meat, it is the demand for it thatmakes the problem persist, and that demand comesmainly from tourism. The scale of this problem is nota local one and is not exclusively limited to the Cuban
crocodile, but to other species of Cuban threatened
animal that although consumed traditionally, areincreasingly exploited along with the growth of tourism.
An example of this threat can be seeing in the following
video link, where 3 men show off about their several days
hunt ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1JVmr37g2c).

Fig. 1: Polimita picta kept by locals in their garden atCañon del Yumuri nature reserve.

Fig. 3: Zapata Swamp National Park, home to the Cuban
Crocodile and a hotspot for tourism in Cuba

The Karst ecosystems of Viñales National Park
Mountains in Sierra de los Organos range in western
Cuba are particularly attractive because of their beauty
and the intercalated anthropic landscapes that surroundFig. 2: Polimita picta being sold to tourists at La Farolaroad, Cuchillas del Toa Biosphere Reserve.

them. This mixture of human transformed ecosystems
and natural areas are most famous at Viñales National－ 40 －宮城教育大学 環境教育研究紀要

第 19 巻 (2017)

Park, one of the main touristic destinations in Cuba.

Acknowledgement

Tourism is an important source of income for local people

The authors have been supported by a grant from thein this protected area. However, in recent years, lodging

Toyota International Foundation to L.M. Echenique-Diazcapacity has approached its limits when demands keep

(grant ID D12-R-0805) and a Grant-in-Aid from the Japan

increasing. At the same time, a large number of tourists

Society for the Promotion of Science to K. Mizota (grantare being guided by locals to the karstic ecosystems

ID 16H03051).

where a significant number of endemic plants and animal
species occur, increasing the environmental impact thatBibliographysuch levels of activity imply (Figures 4 and 5).

CNAP (2004). Areas Protegidas de Cuba. Centro Nacionalde Areas Protegidas, inisterio de Ciencia, Tecnologia yMedio Ambiente, Cuba. 112 pp.
CNAP (2009). Plan del SNAP 2009-2013 . Centro Nacionalde Areas Protegidas, inisterio de Ciencia, Tecnologia yMedio Ambiente, Cuba.
Leopold, A. (1991). The River of the Mother of God

and other Essay by Aldo Leopold . S. Flander and J.B.
Callicott, eds. Madison: University of Winconsin Press.
(Original book published in 1941.)

Fig. 4: A pet Cuban Hutia (Capromys pilorides) in a local
farm shown to tourist at Viñales National Park

Fig. 5: Agriculture, tourism and natural landscapes atViñales National Park.

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