The Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology, and the Environment (CITMA) announced the implementation of management plans for 18 protected areas during 2024-2028.

Havana, Cuba.- The plans were enacted following their publication in the Cuban National Gazette on July 31st of a resolution penned by CITMA president Eduardo Martinez.

The protected areas management plan establishes and controls actions to provide the development, conservation, and sustainable use of the zones, based on their own characteristics.

Cuba counts on144 protected areas covering 18.54 percent of the country’s surface; that’s 15.94 percent of lands and 22.76 of marine platform.

The new resolution establishes new management plans for the areas cited below.

In western Pinar del Rio province: Guanahacabibes National Park, Corona de San Carlos Fauna Shelter, Protected Area of Managed Resources, and Eastern section of the Colorados Archipelago.

In western Matanzas province: Outstanding Natural Element, Zapata Swamp Cave System or Sistema Espeleolacustre, and the Tres Ceibas de Clavelinas Flower Reserve.

In central Villa Clara province: the Ojo de Megano Oustanding Natural Element, Lanzanillo-Pajonal-Fragoso Fauna Shelter, Las Picuas-Cayo Cristo Fauna Shelter, Cayo Frances Fauna Shelter, and the Sabanas de Santa Clara Flower Reserve.

In central Sancti Spíritus province: Caguanes National Park

In central Ciego de Ávila province: Cayos de Ana María Fauna Shelter.

In eastern Las Tunas province: the Ojo de Agua-Monte Cabaniguán Fauna Shelter and the Bahía de Nuevas Grandes-La Isleta Ecological Reserve.

In eastern Santiago de Cuba province: El Retiro Natural Reserve, the Siboney-Jutci Ecologic Reserve, the Loma del Gato-Monte Líbano Ecologic Reserve, a Protected Area of Managed Resources, and the Baconao Biosphere Reserve. (ACN)