Rehabilitation of coastal dunes in Jardines del Rey continues

CIEGO DE AVILA, Cuba, Dec 9 (ACN) The rehabilitation of coastal dunes in Jardines del Rey, off the northern coast of the province of Ciego de Avila, is still a priority of Tarea Vida (Task Life), a state plan to tackle climate change approved by the Council of Ministers on April 25, 2017.

Rolando Barroso, specialist of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) in the municipality of Morón, said that during the months of little tourist activity in the cay due to COVID-19 they kept working to get rid of invasive species, sow plants typical of these ecosystems, and build sand dunes to protect the beaches.

“This was possible thanks to our joint work of the Animal Biofood Research Center (CIBA), which allowed the propagation of seeds along the coast and the reorientation of creeping plants to seek the greatest possible density in the dunes and avoid erosion,” the specialist added.

Danay Rodríguez Ramos, agronomist engineer of the CIBA Center and coordinator of the project, had remarked in February that the plans for 2017-2021 included the elimination of 21,550 square meters of invasive exotic species from these coastal areas, where a 16% increase in the native biodiversity, home to local and national endemic species of flora and fauna, had become noticeable.

One of the purposes of the project is to achieve less eroded beaches and contribute to sustainable tourism with well-preserved dunes to reduce the possible impact of hurricanes.

In Jardines del Rey, the environment is preserved in harmony with economic and development plans, as evidenced by the wooden walkways on pylons that stretch from the hotels and ranches to the shoreline to protect the dunes.

This tourist destination, under development until 2030, has 22 hotel facilities with nearly 10,000 rooms and a wide range of recreational and service centers.