Cuba Cuesta Basaltica ‘The Song of the Birds Returns to Cuba’S Gulf Coast’ Havana

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Adaptation Story: Cuba Cuesta Basaltica ‘The Song of the Birds Returns to Cuba’s Gulf Coast’ Havana

Artemisa Melena Alquízar Güira de Güines Melena del Sur hen Vicente Núñez noticed natural sea barriers, flood risks rose as Batabanó several years ago that Cuba’s they were degraded. southwestern gulf coastline The project is making a difference, W Mayabeque and its rich plant and wildlife were thanks to the tireless dedication of many Sugidero Guanimar de Beach Batabanó disappearing, he knew something had individuals on the ground like Núñez Majana Cajio to be done. who are committed to conserving the Beach Beach He experimented by replanting different coastlines and their ecosystems for Gulf of Batabanó types of mangroves. Further actions generations to come. Communities are Project materialized with the arrival of a local planting mangroves, fostering their Intervention Area scientist known as the “Mangrove Fairy” and a project in 2014 funded by the “Working together we can successfully Adaptation Fund and carried out by the achieve raising the consciousness as PRIMARY UN Development Programme and Cuban part of our ‘life homework’. Thanks to Environment Agency. the mangrove, we do not have “I started to plant and grow the big coastal floods and salinity objectives mangrove to call attention to the necessity intrusions affect us even less.” ● Reduce impacts of coastal of its restoration. (Dr. Leda Menéndez, —Zaray Rodriguez, 22, who cares for flooding through recovery of coastal the late Cuban mangrove researcher) mangroves in Batabanó ecosystems and forests came with the project and taught me ● Increase adaptive capacity and that the mangrove is competitive, that I natural regeneration, placing stake lines resilience of vulnerable coastal shouldn’t plant three together. Today we to reduce wave impacts, cleaning canals communities to climate change are planting through different methods. to restore water flow and promoting ● Ensure effectiveness and With our hands-on experience, together forest growth through educational sustainability of project by with the scientists who have the theory we activities. establishing enabling environments at can help in the protection of the coastline,” The project has brought hope. Four municipal and regional levels said Núñez, 72, of the Forest Company in years in, mangroves are sprouting, ● Raise awareness of ecosystem-based Artemisa Province’s Cajío coast. wildlife, shrimp and fish appear adaptation to address climate change to be rising, and flooding is more controlled. “It means that the mangrove is recuperating, that the natural “We ourselves were destroying regeneration that wasn’t happening this world, but now we have a project of environmental education, we work before is occurring,” said Núñez. with all the schools and are linked to The project’s true effects will take time the population. Here you can (mangroves planted in 2014 are 4-5 breathe a healthy world.” feet high today and take 10-15 years to —María Teresa, 54, Mayabeque Province mature), but rehabilitative actions have resulted in emerging protective benefits against flooding and reduced erosion approaches that respect the and saltwater intrusion rates. Artemisa environment across generations residents say wind and flood impacts of settlements that depend on the Leandro Lázaro. (photo courtesy of Cuba from extreme weather have lessened in watershed for their livelihoods is a key Environment Agency) protected mangrove zones. element of the project. Artemisa and Mayabeque Provinces Leandro Lázaro, 15, who studies In Mayabeque, María Teresa, 54, are the focus of the US$ 6 million marine life while monitoring Artemisa’s administrator of the protected area of project, covering 52 miles of narrow mangroves, sees the difference. “You the Gulf of Batabanó, is committed to coast dominated by wetlands and already see more coastal species, fish, protecting mangroves while teaching mangroves. It is one of Cuba’s most quantity of fish, birds making nests in the next generation to appreciate them vulnerable regions due to climate the mangroves and even the mangrove as much as her. “This village needed change-associated sea level rise, canary – which you didn’t see much in this project, and it arrived in the right intense tropical storms, saltwater years past,” he said. “The flora and fauna moment,” she said. “The mangrove was surges and flooding that impact vital have recovered, and that means that the in a very bad state. When I started here farm irrigation and drinking water mangrove has recovered.” (six years ago) the mangrove didn’t grow sources. Since mangroves serve as Sharing knowledge of sustainable past one meter high. Today you can see

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mangroves of between 15 and 18 meters with tremendous BY THE NUMBERS health. You can see the level of conservation they have.” Most of Teresa’s workers 1,440 21,500 HA OF MANGROVE are youth ages 18-21, which DIRECT BENEFICIARIES ECOSYSTEM RESTORED bodes well for the project’s FROM REDUCED BETWEEN MAJANA sustainability. “We have young COASTAL FLOODING AND SURGIDERO DE people that are incorporating (AT LEAST 45% WOMEN) BATABANÓ themselves into this, are very committed and always want to learn more,” she said. 270,000 “Kids learn here and return Growing mangroves. (photo courtesy of Cuba INDIRECT BENEFICIARIES FROM REDUCED Environment Agency) to their homes and transmit IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE-RELATED IMPACTS ON [knowledge] to their parents.” ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES (AT LEAST 45% WOMEN) The project has changed people’s mindsets to link conservation to communities’ economic survival. No longer are mangroves converted HA OF RED MANGROVE ESTABLISHED ALONG SEASHORE BETWEEN to coal or cut into twine. Only exotic, invasive tree species are turned BATABANÓ AND PUNTA MORA into plant-based charcoal to sell, which creates income and needed 1,563 space for natural regeneration of mangroves and native species of the swamp forest. Alternative incomes from medicinal mud and beekeeping are encouraged, while fostering plant restoration. Knowledge growth in ecosystem-based adaptation and climate 4 6 MUNICIPALITIES ESTABLISHED change at the community and leadership levels is palpable, and MUNICIPAL AND GROUPS OF COMMUNITY development strategies are incorporating it. Fishermen have received 2 PROVINCIAL MEMBERS FROM LOCAL environmental training. DEVELOPMENT VOLUNTEER GROUPS PLANS ESTABLISHED ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL Importantly the project has improved workers’ conditions and WITH PROVISIONS AND ADAPTATION ISSUES dramatically increased salaries, which had been very low. The number FOR ECOSYSTEM- (AT LEAST 45% OF MEMBERS of workers in mangrove nurseries and forest brigades has increased by BASED ADAPTATION ARE WOMEN) 2-3 times, with significantly higher percentages of women than before. Projects are managed by national experts, fostering local ownership. Communities see mangrove restoration as means to HA OF LANDWARD EDGE continue living in these areas rather than WOODLANDS RESTORED AND ENRICHED abandoning them, and realize the project’s 4,316 Dr. Leda Menéndez effects will grow. “We have to maintain the YEARLY TRAINING AND TECHNICAL VISITS (the Mangrove results of the project because this only lasts TO VULNERABLE COASTAL COMMUNITIES Fairy) passed away five years,”said Esther Quintana, 54, of BY PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL TECHNICAL at 72 from a stroke Cajío. AUTHORITIES TO SUSTAINABLY SUPPORT in 2016 while The project has generated side 3 ECOSYSTEM-BASED ADAPTATION promoting mangrove benefits, such as forming synergies with conservation, but conservation projects financed by other her contributions are funds and fostering investments that still felt. She taught prioritize watershed restoration and many of the project’s sustainability, reforestation and water- workers how to care efficient irrigation. It indirectly helped for mangroves and an ecology classroom in Cuba’s recovery from Hurricane Irma. was created in Since it had strengthened capacity and her name. tools of the southern forest brigades, they were sent to provide immediate technical support to the northern coast’s ecosystems that were most affected by the storm. And involving youth may be Cuba’s most powerful tool against climate change over time. Yamila Alfonso and other Surgidero de Batabanó volunteers help conserve the forest and now see hutias, manatees, trogons and crocodiles that were very rare before the project. “I love being in the mangrove,” she said. “I forget about everything and listen to the song of the birds.” Placing stake lines. (photo courtesy of Cuba Environment Agency)