Cuba’s Environmental Problems

When socialism was introduced to Cuba, the idea was that it would be more eco-friendly than capitalism. Instead, the Revolution to rapidly controlled two major factors that eventually led to environmental problems in developing countries population growth and poerty. contri scarcee to the issue of poverty in Cuba ar the financial, sparing and commercial blockades imposed by the United States. In order to preserve the environment in Cuba and combat these issues, serious action was necessary.The amount of environmental ab hold precipitates into two categories a) small-scale environmental destruction committed by individuals through illegal hunting, de plantation, toss of waste into aquatic ecosystems, etc. or b) large-scale environmental destruction resulting from major projects and industries approved by governmental agencies and owned by international companies, like hotel chains and mining companies after the Special Period, and farming ahead the Special Period. 1 The op snapunity for Cuba to protect its environment came after the fall of the Soviet legal jointure and the strengthening of the US blockade in 1990.This period, referred to as the Special Period (1990-2000), witnessed a decrease in umpteen environmentally damaging activities both by choice and by necessity, but also resulted in many decisions to resuscitate the Cuban economy. After the Earth Summit in 1992, following Fidel Castros talking to regarding the condition of the environment on a global scale, Cuba designed and implemented a variety of programs, administrative structures, and general aw atomic number 18ness activities to promote sound environmental direction and sustain commensurate cultivation.What is most important is the constipation that ahs already been done and the efforts to reverse these conditions. Currently, there atomic number 18 many efforts to bring the Cuban environment to a sustainable level. When the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe ended tr ade and financial affinitys with Cuba, the island was forced to necessitate severe adjustments. The emergency measures implemented by the Cuban government aimed at hindering the total economic calve of the regime, feed been referred to by the leadership as the special period in peacetime. This Special Period brought approximately the creation of the Ministry of Science,Technology and Environment (CITMA) in 1994 which provided an important impetus for environmental policy and management on a national scale. 2 In 1995 the National environmental Strategy (EAN) was designed, but was non approved by the government until 1997. Since then the EAN is the guiding document of Cuban environmental policy, establishing the principles upon which the national environmental efforts are based. 3 The system identifies the chief(prenominal) environmental issues in Cuba and proposes ideas and various methods to prevent, solve or minimize these problems.The strategy goals are to amend environ mental protection and the use of natural resources in an attempt to meet sustainable social and economic development objectives. Evaluations of Cubas environmental record in comparison with Eastern European records shows that environmental deterioration in Cuba over more than three decades of socialist rule responded to specific conditions not usually found in developing countries but were present in the former Soviet Union and the former Eastern European socialist countries. 4 As a result of this, Kirwin Shaffer dry lands that Consequently, central planning ignored topical anesthetic environmental concerns.Also, the absence of private ownership and the drop of citizen input in decision making meant that all decisions affecting the local level were made with regard to how they fit with the overall national plan. Results and impacts at the local level were secondary. Which leads to these conclusions Cuban country and industrial development following the Soviet object lessons commence had similar consequences for piddle, soil and air contaminant as found in Europe. 5 The occurrent Cuban stance that attempts to blame the USSR for these effects in Cuba benefits Cubas political system because it takes the blame away from the state, but it is not served by the historical record. The glorified discolor of Cuba during the 1990s has beneficial impacts over the short term, but, according to Diaz-Briquets and Perez-Lopez, economic costs and turns toward a development model based on tourism may soon erode those short-term gains.Cubas pollution and befoulment problems are widespread, and not completely the result of Soviet-style development projects. Yet, there is no doubt that many of the current environmental problems in Cuba result master(prenominal)ly from sovietization of the Cuban economy. Soil erosion and soil degradation are the main problems in agriculture. These problems started primarily due to the intensification of mechanized agriculture and the use of petrochemical herbicides and pesticides. 6 Agriculture is just one of the many environmental issues the island faces.In terms of the land, the harm ca employ by permanent crops to these lands is primarily due to a lack of crop rotation causing soil depletion, poor agro-technical management and insufficient fertility measures. 7 In 1970 La zafra de los diez millones, took place, in which the Cuban government attempted to break all historic sugar production records by producing a ten million ton sugar harvest. 8 The government fell short of their goal by two tons, but by this point the damage was already done.Because crops take so lots nutrients from the land, farmers take turns crops each year to allow the land to re bulk large. During la zafra de los diez millones crops were not alternated which took a heavy toll on the land. In Cuba, poorly designed and implemented agricultural development policies do been a major endorser to the degradation of the countrys soils Soil de gradation continued apace with the agricultural practices that came to prevail in Cuba during the first half of the twentieth century as more and more virgin islands were brought under sugar cane and livestock production.There is mounting evidence that the pace of soil deterioration intensified during the second half of the century, principally because of the widespread adoption of forward-looking agricultural practices, stopicularly from the 1960s to the late 1980s. As in the Soviet Union and former(a) socialist economies, the collectivization of the rural sector was regarded as necessary for achieving the goals of a centrally planned command economy. Collectivization would make possible economies of scale and bring the advantages of mechanization and modern scientific agriculture. 9After the collectivization of land agrarian reforms were implemented to return the land to the state and to its citizens. incomparablely this shift in land ownership could squander major environm ental implications, especially after the fall of the Soviet Union. After the Soviets left Cuba, Cuban farming suffered a shortage of imported agricultural goods divergence Cuban farmers to use traditional farming practices and some more modern techniques (such as rip irrigation) that are more environmentally friendly The post-Soviet agricultural model is less seement on imported agricultural practices that had been abandoned for their alleged backwardness the large-scale use of beasts of burden, increased reliance on organic fertilizers and biologic pest controls, the abandonment of marginal soils that had been brought under cultivation and made productive only by the intense use of agricultural inputs, and a shift of urban labor to the countryside. 10According to Diaz-Briquets and Perez-Lopez, more important than this modification in agricultural practices, is that transferring the control of lands to farmers who are closely tied it, and whose economic healthy-being impart imagine on the stewardship of the natural resource base, there is the expectation that the trend of soil deterioration. may at least be slowed down. but it is too early tell how successful the new agricultural policies bequeath be. 11 At this point, many of Cubas natural resources are in danger of extinction.Because Cuba has exported sugarcane as its main commodity, sugarcane has replaced natural flora and fauna. There was a time before 1959 when over 30 unlike kinds of bananas grew on the island, but most of the banana directs have been replaced by sugarcane. Cubas crops and animals have been affected by pests and diseases introduced from abroad coastal pollution and excessive hunting also present severe threats to wildlife populations. 12 Water aquifers have been contaminated by pollutants (and saltwater on the coasts) and their levels are declining due to nearly unrestricted use.Similarly, waterflows reaching the coasts are also exceedingly contaminated, which constantly hurt s coral reefs and breeding grounds. Dam and reservoir construction has hurt coastal lagoons and mangroves Cubas fresh water system (rivers/lakes/aquifers) has very serious problems. Under Castros policy of voluntad hidraulica, which called for not a single drop of fresh water to be lost to the ocean, the government has built over 1,000 large and small dams throughout the entire island, covering 1. 4% of Cubas rule.Although the benefits to Cuban agriculture are clear in terms of increased irrigated land (close to 1 million hectares), the ecological effect has been kinda negative in terms of lowering the waters oxygen level and increase salinity. Dams have also blocked the dispersal of sediment and fresh water runoff over mangrove areas, lend to a 30% add up reduction of mangrove coverage and biodiversity bolshie13 In fact, the bays of Cuba are some of the most polluted in the world. Industrial, agricultural and human discharges into the sea, as well as de qualityation for strip mi ning, have contributed to the pollution. 14 Water diversion to reservoirs is linked to the virtual destruction of the oyster bed and major decline in the fish catch in the Casilda coastal region of southern Santa Clara Province. 15 These factors, along with the excessive use of aquifer amniotic fluid and wells apply for sugar and citrus irrigation are impart to the salinization of the water in Cuba.Extensive water logging of coastal aquifers has lead to salinization and soil erosion. It has been estimated in 1991 that 600,000 ha have light to modest salinization levels, piece of music the remainder show high levels of salinization. 16 The main source of water pollution lies in the industrial facilities, warehouses, and workshops and helper entities located around the bay. Fifty-three industrial facilities are located in the immediate proximity of the bay, and other 84 industries produce waste that indirectly discharges into the bay through tributary streams. 17 These industria l areas include the port and the nickel industries that add to the contamination of the water supply. The port activity itself is also one of the major sources of contamination for the bay. It is estimated that the ships served in the port generate 150,000 tons of refuse per year. 18 Deforestation is also a factor contributing to the poor state of Cubas environment. Forests have not suffered nearly as much as the land, with conservation efforts bringing Cubas forests back to their 1945 levels, but conservation of forests has not meant saving all woodlands. One of the main problems environmentalists have with deforestation in Cuba is the fact that many of the available estimates regarding how much of the original forest cover remained before the revolution are based on rough figures made by observers with no credible statistical information.According to Eudel Eduardo Cepero The irrational use of forests has become common practice under the Castro regime. As no current data are avail able on the actual total area of cover forest, the value of Cubas forest resources is unknown. Most of the remaining natural forests are in poor condition from being overexploited. An average of 200 forest fires occur each year, affecting some 5,000 hectares of forest. Reforestation has been precarious, due to poor spirit seeds, a low survival rate of plantings, and a narrow range of forest species utilized. 19 The National environmental Strategy offers statistics to support Ceperos claims by offering statistical information, but not listing sources to control its facts it also states that the forests in Cuba have grown over the last few historic period, but that there is dummy up much work to be done with regards to improving the forest cover in Cuba Although the forest cover has increased constantly in the recent years in the last 43 years increasing to a total coverage of 2, 696, 587. 9 hectares, bringing us to a forested index of 24. 54% in 2005 after-effects still persist from years of irrational exploitation of Cuban forests which practically eradicated our most rich woodland resources. Problems persist with the quality of most native forests as a consequence of prior misdirection and exploitation particularly in the most important watersheds. Problems also exist in the nations seedbed sources, which do not meet productivity or quality expectations.In addition, a lack of updated forest management plans, insufficient silviculture of forested areas, and insufficiencies and deficiencies in management plans continue to present repugns20 The EAN suggests that more work be done to investigate invasive plant species that re threatening the native plants. It says that the survival rate of tree plantations and the success rate of trees developing to full maturity have improved over the last few years, but that the numbers are still substantially low when compared to the anticipated numbers.Also, the range of forest species used in forestry activities h as been misfortunate. Also suffering from the effects of sovietization and the special period is the biological diversity of the island. A substantial, unquantified outlet of biodiversity exists, due, among other reasons, to improper management of certain ecosystems, the application of intensive farming, the marketing of endangered species, as well as conditions making it easy for important genetic resources to leave the country. 21 Coral reefs, mangroves, the original forest (which used to cover most of the island) and rainforests are ecosystems that are suffering in Cuba. According to the EAN, the leading causes of this loss of biodiversity are 1 Changes, fragmentation, or destruction of habitat/ecosystems/landscapes due primarily to falsifys in land use and inadequate practices employed in fishing, harvest, and agricultural soil preparation, among others.Overexploitation of resources, for example fishing and forestry resources. 3 Degradation and contamination of soils, water, and the atmosphere. 4 inception of exotic invasive species that displace or affect the functioning of ecosystems and native species. 5Insufficient regulatory and control mechanisms to prevent and punish illegal activities, including unlawful hunting and fishing, trade in threatened species and other natural resources. 6Climate change and the resulting intensification of dry periods, the incidence of torrential rains, temperature increase, sea level rise, in addition to the intensity and frequency of natural natural disasters such as hurricanes. 7 Forest fires. 22The EAN lists the goals it wishes to achieve and the necessary steps that should be taken in order to achieve these goals. Among these goals are increasing the amount of forest coverage to 26. 7% of national territory have one million hectares of forest maintained by the National System of Criterion and Indicators for sustainable Forest Management complete National Forestry Planning in 2007 reduce amount of lands affected by forest fires 69% of forest cover used as a buffer to protect coastal areas, soils, water and conservation forests management program for invasive plant species. 23 Before the Special Period much of the air pollution in Cuba was the result of its dependence on Soviet and Eastern European vehicles and factories that were bemire the air Urban pollution, could be partly traced to Cubas extreme reliance on inefficient and highly contaminating Soviet and Eastern European-built vehicles and factories. In the agricultural sector, a practice that resulted in much environmental damage was the promotion of Sovietstyle, large-scale state farm production model based on widespread mechanization, heavy chemical inputs (e. . , fertilizers and herbicides), and extensive irrigation24 Air pollution in Cuba has increased significantly in the years since the Soviets left the island. The absence of mitigation measures for emissions, inadequate control measures on the levels of noise generated by diff erent activities, scarce information about the harmful effects on health and social behavior, the poor technical state of transport, and a lack of standards for emissions are also present. 25 There are few environmental reports available to the public that are based on analytical information that is collected systematically in the field and impact in laboratories. Cuban scientists state that The two main sources of sulfuric gases within the city limits are the senile thermal power plants of Tallapiedra in the Old Havana neighborhood and the Antonio Maceo plant in Regla, across the embayment of Havana. In both of these neighborhoods they recorded the highest level of environmental pollution, measuring up to 7. milligrams of sulfides per square decimeter per solar day at the Tallapiedra Power Plant. Three secondary sources in the metallurgic, chemical and construction industries were also associated with air pollution, all of them located in the environs of Havana Bay. 26 The Mini stry of Public Health, better endowed for this purpose than other branches of government, has produced or published few precise documents dealing with health conditions and environmental degradation.Sulfur oxides, undesirable residues of burning at the stake that are produced mostly in power plants when sulfur-rich fuels are burned, create respiratory problems and cause acid rain. Cuba replaced part of the vanished Soviet fuel imports of the late 1980s with domestic crude containing roughly six percent sulfur. It is used mostly in power plants and to run cement factories. 27 Diaz-Briquets and Perez-Lopez point out that the direction of transportation in Cuba are getting old and, due to poor maintenance and inadequate resources to obtain parts, they are polluting and become harmful to the environment.Their conclusion is that As long as the economic crisis continues, Cuba will not be able to modernize its fleet of cars, trucks, and buses (other than for those few vehicles serving th e tourist industry). 28 If the Cuban government would allow media to spread environmental education to the citizens of Cuba and to the rest of the world, not only would it help efforts within Cuba to protect and improve the environment but it would also help efforts to improve the environment on a global level. The strategy points out that article 27 of the Constitution of the Republic saysThe state protects the nations environment and natural resources and recognizes their close relationship with sustainable economic and social development to make human life more rational and to pick up the survival, well being and security of present and future generations. It is the responsibility of proper governmental agencies to apply this policy. It is the obligation of the citizens to contribute to the protection of the water, atmosphere, and the conservation of soil, wild flora and fauna and all the rich potential of nature. 29Since Cuba has state a national sovereignty over its natural resources and is actively working to restore and protect them, the state must also exercise rights over the countrys environment and resources. Similarly, Cuba must develop a national tendency towards integrated natural resource management, commercial environmental management, and urban environmental management as fundamental traits of Cuban environmental management. 30 The current embargo the United States has placed on Cuba keeps the island from growing economically.Which means that , since the economy is not changing or being stimulated, the people of Cuba are suffering. Meaning, because man poor, urban people cannot afford daily necessities, they resort to alternate ways to get everyday goods even if it means depleting the natural resources. With the current government in Cuba and the restrictions caused by the embargo, it is hard to think that the Cuban environment will improve much in the next decade or two but the National Environmental Strategy offers hope to the idea that Cubas environment will improve.The National Environment Strategy 2007-2010 is utilise to improving the environmental conditions of Cuba and finding a way to meet sustainable social and economic development goals. The eradication of extreme poverty is an achievement rooted in the very foundations of the revolutionary process. Achieving this is essential to the pursuit of environmental sustainability, first and foremost because extreme poverty cannot coexist with a healthy environment. The solution to this challenge is one of the principal achievements that Cuba can effectively show to the world. 31 The future of environmental reforms in Cuba will be influenced by a variety of cultural, economic, social, and political factors. Ultimate success or failure, however, will likely depend more on thorough laws, money, human capital, public involvement in environmental decision making, use of incentive-based tools, and international support. Strong environmental laws are a necessary founda tion for sustainable development, but success will only occur with the continuing political will to implement and enforce them.