Conservation shadows development in Cuba

December 13, 2000
By CNN/Environmental News Network staff

Many of the pristine white sand beaches
that once lured Earnest Hemingway to
Cuba remain untouched.

Floating at the confluence of the
Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf
of Mexico, Cuba is home to some of the
world's most spectacular coral reefs and
sportfishing opportunities.

Until recently, many of the country's ecological attractions were inaccessible to
Western travelers. In 40 years of socialist rule and financial strain, coastal
development and fishery harvesting in Cuba hasn't been as rampant as in
neighboring Caribbean countries.

But hotels are popping up across the once forbidden island.

With its sugar sector in decline, Cuba is banking on tourism to power its needy
economy into the 21st century.

Since the early 1990s, tourism has skyrocketed to almost 2 million foreign
visitors a year, and that number is expected to reach 5 million by 2005.

Conservation groups are keeping a close eye on development and its effects on
the environment.

Last week mre than 450 scientists from 25 countries gathered in Havana for the
fifth Cuban Marine Science Congress. The scientists presented new research on
marine conservation and discussed management of depleted fisheries and the
impact of coastal tourism.

"Cuba is the Caribbean's biological
crown jewel," said Environmental
Defense senior scientist Ken Lindeman.
"With over 3,000 miles of coastline and
4,200 islets and keys, Cuba is literally
teeming with marine and terrestrial
treasures."

For the past six years, Lindeman has
worked with leading Cuban researchers
to establish a scientific foundation for
proactive marine conservation in Cuba.

Hamstrung by strict regulations
governing funding and human resources
between the United States and Cuba,
conservation groups have had to take the
less traveled road in their attempt to protect Cuba's environment.

"You have to be creative and emphasize an educational and informational
approach," Lindeman said. "We can go down there and work
shoulder-to-shoulder with these people as long as we do not exchange money or
any other capital resources."

Cuba's late start in the tourism game may be a benefit because it can learn from
the mistakes that other Caribbean tourist destinations have made. At the Havana
conference, scientists exchanged case studies on eco-tourism and marine
conservation that have been conducted in Australia and North America.

The future of Cuba's marine resources may be of particular interest to U.S.
fisheries managers.

Three of Cuba's massive reef tracts are longer than the Florida Keys and provide
exceptional spawning grounds for grouper, snapper and lobster. Because of
prevailing ocean currents and Cuba's proximity to Florida, the conservation of
the country's fisheries may help replenish U.S. fisheries as well.

"Cuba is at a historic crossroads," Lindeman said. "Coastal development and
overfishing have begun to damage these resources. Environmental Defense and
our Cuban colleagues are working to ensure Cuba's resources are preserved for
future generations."