Eastern Cuba prioritizes biodiversity protection

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Dec 22 (ACN) The protection of the local biodiversity and the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services and of the country's natural heritage were top priorities in the province of Santiago de Cuba during 2021.

José Zapata Balangué, provincial delegate of the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA), remarked in the annual assessment of the entity that the Regulatory Body (ORSA Santiago) conducted 57 inspections in basins of national and provincial interest located in the region and took water samples from the bay of the city of Santiago de Cuba for quality tests during the rainy season (November), which made it possible to locate 29 significant sources of pollution, including four rivers and a rain drainage system. CITMA also engaged in the physical-chemical monitoring of water quality and heavy metals in the bottom of the bay to check the impact on the ecosystem of the dredging required by a new local cement factory.

“We have operational plans for all protected areas based on the update of the Management Plan for the "Gran Piedra" Protected Natural Landscape for 2021-2026, so we imposed a fine on and held ORSA accountable for inadequate works,” said Zapata Balangué.

At the beginning of the year, the ninth edition of the Master's Degree program in Integrated Coastal Management sponsored by Universidad de Oriente was opened, but COVID-19 forced its suspension until September. Similarly, research works were carried out on issues related to the conservation of flora and fauna and the adaptation to, and mitigation of, environmental problems caused by climate change. Likewise, they placed 128 contaminating sources under control, and investments were made on local sewer systems to eliminate the dumpling of liquid waste.

Liudmilia Verdecia, an environmental specialist, pointed out that this year they awarded prizes to four entities free of ozone-depleting substances and graduated 480 technicians from a course on Good Practices involving these substances.

Their plans for 2022 include studies on regional climate scenarios and research on the quality of drinking water to prevent the presence of metals, microcystins, cyanobacteria and other harmful contaminants.