Cuba - Overview

Remark:

Please note that this country profile has been prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of information provided in the NBSAP and national reports, but has not been reviewed by the Party concerned.

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Cuba has a large variety of ecosystems (42 types) and landscapes (23 types), ranging from arid and semiarid lands to humid tropical forests and mountains. Plains cover 75% of the territory, whereas mountains cover 18% and humid coastal lands cover the remaining 4%. Cuba is, the principal center of evolution and speciation in the Antilles, as well as one of the most important islands worldwide for biodiversity... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

The system of protected areas for Cuba includes 263 areas, 80 of which have a national importance and 183 are important locally.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The National Biodiversity Strategy will contribute, through implementation of actions and jurisdictional ordinance, to the integration of environmental policies and the development, in a manner that strengthens the recognition of the value, use, rational management and conservation of the biological diversity, based on the fair and equitable distribution of the costs and benefits derived from its use... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

The National Environmental Strategy of Cuba is being adapted to a new strategic cycle from 2005 to 2010, with measurable targets, which incorporates most of the 2010 biodiversity targets. The protection of areas of particular importance to biodiversity is being incorporated into different plans and programmes, in particular through the National System of Protected Areas... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

Cuba has a national system on protected areas (SNAP 2003-2008), which aims, among other things, at covering at least 90% of all types of identified natural landscapes. The approval of the 201 Decree Law in 1999 is the most relevant measure taken by Cuba in order to legally establish a system or network of protected areas... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

Cuba has several programmes related to traditional knowledge. The rules on environmental impact assessment cover the cultural, environmental and social aspects in general and, although no special distinction is made with respect to settlements of local communities, there is a harmony between this process and the Akwé:Kon guidelines... More »

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Sr. Enrique Moret Hernández	CBD Primary NFP, ICNP ABS NFP
Lic. Jorge Luis Fernández Chamero	Resource Mobilization FP
Dra. Gisela Alonso Dominguez	CHM NFP, SBSTTA NFP, GTI NFP, GSPC NFP
Dra Maritza García García	Protected Areas NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Sr. Enrique Moret Hernández	Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP
Lic. Juan Carlos Menéndez de San Pedro López	BCH NFP