Cuban westernmost province increases areas to reforest

PINAR DEL RIO, Cuba, Aug 1 (ACN) With a plan for 2,715 hectares (ha), Pinar del Rio is increasing the areas for development in the current reforestation campaign, which runs until the end of September.

According to Reinaldo Garcia Diaz, head of the State Forestry Service department, this figure represents approximately 250 hectares more than in the previous year, in line with the strategy of increasing plans based on the province's need and availability.

The western territory, the second most reforested in Cuba after the easternmost province of Guantanamo, is promoting around twenty forest and fruit tree species during this period, with the greatest emphasis on pine, as some 1,200 hectares will be planted.

"We are at the optimal time for planting due to the rains," emphasized Garcia Diaz, who mentioned the existence of 11 tree nurseries in the territory, including four high-tech ones.

Hurricanes have had some impact on the province's forest resources, and forest fires have been severe this year in terms of the number of hectares affected, leading Pinar del Rio to maintain its policy of planting more than it cuts down.

In this regard, the head of the State Forestry Service explained that nearly 1,300 hectares of forest are cut down and over 2,500 are planted annually, in addition to seed collection, which is key to ensuring the 2025-2026 reforestation campaign.

Reinaldo Garcia Diaz stated that Pinar del Rio maintains 48.32 % of its forested area.