Cuba preserves its wetlands and waterfowl habitats

HAVANA, Cuba, July 24 (ACN) Cuba currently has eight Ramsar sites, designated as such for their international importance under the Ramsar Convention covering wetlands and waterfowl habitats.

Only the Zapata Swamp (province of Matanzas), the Cauto Delta Wetland (Granma), the Great Northern Wetland (Ciego de Ávila), the Río Máximo-Camagüey Wetland (Camagüey), and the Lanier Swamp and southern Isle of Youth have such a category.

In 2001, according to specialists from the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA), Cuba became a State Party of the said Convention, signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and entered into force four years later.

As the only modern environmental convention focused on a specific ecosystem, Ramsar has broadened its scope to the global conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

As evidence of its interest in environmental preservation in line with the Constitution of the Republic, CITMA attended the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention, held in Zimbabwe, with a delegation headed by Dr. Adianez Taboada Zamora, Deputy Minister of the Ministry.

Under the theme "Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future," the participants discussed topics such as the restoration of aquatic ecosystems, the strengthening of environmental governance, and the engagement of youth in wetland conservation.