Observations of Environmental Change in

LISA DAVIS University of Alabama DAVID M. BROMMER University of Alabama ENRIQUE RODRIQUEZ-LOECHES DIEZ-ARGÜELLES Institute of Tropical /Cuban Society of Geography

introduction fied the comparative geographic technique in his comparison of Sub-Saharan Africa Analysis of global processes of change and the Southeastern United States. In the at the regional scale is vitally important following, we discuss observations of on- to not only better predict and prepare for going environmental change occurring in change occurring at the regional scale but the Caribbean nation of Cuba made during also to better understand the drivers of a trip to Cuba in May ≤≠≠∫ and highlight change, as they tend to be spatially and some of the environmental changes that temporally complex. The importance of re- are taking place both in Cuba and the gional analyses to questions of global- Southeastern United States. ization, development, and environmental Why Cuba? At first glance there may change in the Caribbean and the South- appear to be few similarities between the eastern United States has been recognized Southeastern United States and a socialist (Torres ≤≠≠∑), as have the importance of island nation located in the Caribbean, but connecting regional scale changes occur- the two locations have many similarities, ring in the Southeastern United States to including being locations of civil wars in global and transnational processes (Lecce the past, having agricultural that and Alderman ≤≠≠∂). Comparative geog- include plantation agriculture of sugar raphy, as a means of analysis, is a use- cane and tobacco, having temperate cli- ful way to explore the economic, social, mates, and their geographic proximity to cultural, and environmental trajectories each other. Gamble (≤≠≠∂) also noted of two locations that share certain histori- connections between Caribbean nations cal and physical commonalities. Through and the Southeastern United States ex- comparative analysis diverging and con- tending back to the ∞π≠≠s through a vari- verging paths of socio-cultural and en- ety of socio-economic, political, and cul- vironmental change can be identified and tural processes, as well as the environment new insight gained concerning the impacts and physical geography, in essence view- of ongoing change, as well as future direc- ing the Caribbean and the Southeastern tions of change. Moseley (≤≠≠∑) exempli- United States as a region not defined by southeastern geographer, 49(1) 2009: pp. 84–93 Observations of Environmental Change in Cuba 85

Figure ∞. Political mural, with Che Guevara at the forefront, that reads, ‘‘of these men a town begins.’’

political boundaries but by similar physi- socialist government (Figure ∞), cal and socio-economic traits. with the former Soviet Union and the It is not our intention to present an United States (Figure ≤), and complex exhaustive discussion of environmental relationship with the United States (Fig- change in Cuba or to discuss all of the so- ure ≥). Equally as tangibly represented in cial, cultural, and natural processes re- the cultural and physical landscape are ex- sponsible. But instead to discuss major en- amples of social, economic, and cultural vironmental changes taking place in Cuba change affecting the physical environ- and to identify the environmental changes ment. As might be expected, some of the that are similar to those experienced in the socio-cultural drivers of environmental Southeastern U.S., shedding light on pro- change in Cuba are similar to those occur- cesses of global environmental change rel- ring in many Caribbean nations, but oth- evant to the region as a whole. Ongoing ers are relatively unique to Cuba because environmental change in Cuba largely they are related to liberalization of the stems from the liberalization of specific tourism and agricultural economies. As is sectors of the Cuban economy and regional common in many locations in the Carib- climate variability. Our observations, bean, growth in the tourism industry has therefore, focus on these vectors of change. had direct impacts on the environment. Most evident of these is the conversion of socio-economic change and natural beaches and coastlines into large resulting urban and physical resorts for packaged tourism. landscape change There are roughly ≥≠≠ Cuban beaches (Sainsbury ≤≠≠∏) used by tourists, mainly Cuba’s cultural and physical landscapes from Europe, including Spain, France, the have abundant visual reminders of Cuba’s United Kingdom, and Germany but also 86 lisa davis, david m. brommer, and enrique rodriquez-loeches diez-argüelles

Figure ≤. Combining Soviet and U.S. cultural representations in Cuba, a Soviet Lada drives on the Malécon (coastal road around the Bay of ) in front of the Hotel Nacional. The U.S. Mafia held a summit in the Hotel Nacional in ∞Ω∂∏ to plan and begin a casino industry that operated in Havana until the Revolution occurred in ∞Ω∑Ω. It was also the site of a fortification in defense of a potential U.S. invasion during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Tunnels that once stored weapons and ammunition still exist today beneath the front lawn of the Hotel Nacional, with empty Soviet ammunition crates in place. from Canada and other parts of the Ameri- ∞Ω∑Ω. An interesting broader topic related cas, with the obvious exception of the to the continued expansion of the Cuban United States. We encountered Spanish tourism industry within the Caribbean is and British tourists most frequently. Many the impact its growth will have on the beaches are not maintained or urbanized tourism-based economies of other Ca- to the level associated with large resorts ribbean nations, particularly should the but many are and growth towards resort United States ease travel restrictions cur- style beaches is clearly visible along Cuba’s rently placed on its citizens regarding coastline, with new construction of large, travel to Cuba. As Padilla and McElroy multi-story hotels along beachfronts in lo- (≤≠≠π) point out, U.S. tourists currently cations such the Playa municipality of comprise half of the tourists in the Carib- Havana, located west of the Almendares bean but less than ∂ percent of the visitors River near neighborhoods formerly home to Cuba. Changes in U.S. travel restrictions to Havana’s elite before the Revolution in have great potential to change this pattern Observations of Environmental Change in Cuba 87

Figure ≥. The U.S. Interest Building in Havana, located on the Malécon. Black flags shown in the foreground are meant to obscure the world news ticker that sits atop and is operated by the U.S. Interest Building. The monument in the foreground and to the right is to over ≤≠≠ servicemen that died on the U.S.S. Maine when it exploded in prior to the Spanish American War in ∞∫Ω∫. and thus would have significant repercus- Socio-economic changes that occurred sions on Caribbean nations currently de- as a result of the departure of the Soviet pendent on U.S. tourism dollars. Union resulted in significant changes in An interesting result of tourism indus- land use. The cessation of trade with the try expansion is the momentum tourism Soviet Union in the ∞ΩΩ≠s left Cuba with- has brought to the historic preservation out its primary food-trading partner and and restoration of the urban landscape of thus, a food shortage resulted. The food Havana Vieja (). In ∞Ω∫≤, UN- shortage led the Cuban government to de- ESCO named Havana Vieja a World centralize its agricultural economy and Heritage Site as a result of the varied ar- focus on localized centers of food produc- chitectural styles (Figure ∂ and Figure ∑) tion that did not require transportation to and historic structures present. This desig- population centers, as both fuel and exten- nation, combined with the expansion of sive road networks were also in short sup- the tourism industry in Cuba beginning in ply (Alvarez and Peurta ∞ΩΩ∂). In ∞ΩΩ≥, the ∞ΩΩ≠s, led to substantial effort and re- the Cuban government converted its state investment of tourism profits into the res- owned and regulated farm system to a toration of historic and/or culturally sig- farming cooperative system called BUCP or nificant structures in Havana Vieja (Figure Basic Units of Cooperative Production ∏), including museums and other public (Unidades Basicas de Produccion Coopera- spaces, such as schools and churches. tiva), which were shown to outperform 88 lisa davis, david m. brommer, and enrique rodriquez-loeches diez-argüelles

Figure ∑. Example of diverse architectural Figure ∂. Example of diverse architectural style in Havana Vieja. style in Havana Vieja. state farms in both quality and quantity of major boroughs of the city has one or more agricultural products (Alvarez and Peurta agropecuarios. Because of the great amount ∞ΩΩ∂). of skill and knowledge necessary to convert Subsequent liberalization of the agri- disused land into productive farmland, cultural economy allowed free enterprise many urban farms are operated by govern- food markets (agropecuarios) (Figure π) to ment agrononomists but employ citizens. be established that permit farmers to sell It is estimated that as much as ≥≠ percent their surplus produce to citizens for profit, of the produce consumed in Cuba is grown which has fueled interest among Cuban cit- in urban farms (Sainsbury ≤≠≠∏). izens in establishing urban farms, in- cluding organoponicos (raised-bed gar- similarities in environmental dens), autoconsumos (gardens operated change between cuba and the by schools and workplaces for their own southeastern u.s. consumption), and huertos intensivos (community gardens). The increase in ur- Not all processes of environmental ban farming resulted in substantial and change taking place in Cuba are driven by apparent land use change in population its unique socio-cultural and historical cir- centers, such as Havana, by encouraging cumstance. In the case of Cuba’s natural conversion of brownfields and disused lots systems, such as rivers and climate, the into farmland (Figure ∫). Greater Havana processes of change underway are very is dotted with urban farms whose totals similar to those being experienced in the number in the hundreds, and each of the same systems in the Southeastern United Observations of Environmental Change in Cuba 89

island of Cuba due to its narrow width, the presence of centrally located mountain ranges (the in the east and the Escambray in the west) that act as ma- jor drainage divides between the northern and southern halves of the island, and the high concentration of subsurface karst networks in extensive limestone substrate that funnel water underground for great distances (Jiménez ∞ΩΩ∫). The geographic prevalence of streams of short length and volumetrically limited size, in combina- tion with a tropical climate, result in flashy hydrology in stream networks in Cuba, and flooding is, therefore, a concern. Flooding related to Hurricane Flora in ∞Ω∏≥ led to extensive impoundment of Cuba’s rivers to minimize flood risk, re- sulting in Ωπ∞ large dams and π≥≠ small dams in existence by ≤≠≠∂ (INRH ≤≠≠∫). River impoundments that are stocked with Figure ∏. The Ambos Mundos Hotel in Havana fish have altered freshwater fish species Vieja is an example of a restored, historic composition and the detainment of nu- building. Hemingway wrote For Whom trients behind river impoundments has the Bell Tolls here. negatively impacted marine fish demo- graphics along coastlines (Baisre and Ar- States. Despite the existence of legislation boleya ≤≠≠∏). Relatively little is known designed to protect the natural environ- about the geomorphic effects of the im- ment, river systems located across Cuba’s poundments in Cuba, but studies like main island have been modified by human Baisre and Arboley (≤≠≠∏) suggest that activities mainly through pollution from the impoundments are affecting sediment agricultural and industrial runoff, accel- storage patterns and nutrient cycling in erated soil erosion associated with land rivers on the island, much as impound- clearance, and the construction of channel ments in the Southeastern U.S. have been impoundments. The most recent of these shown to do, which have ultimately led to changes, and thus the focus of what fol- decreased aquatic biodiversity and pro- lows, was the creation of a large network longed processes of fluvial geomorphic ad- of channel impoundments designed to de- justment in streams located in the South- crease flood risk, irrigate cropland, and eastern U.S. (Lydeard and Mayden ∞ΩΩ∑). provide drinking water, which are all simi- Similar to the Southeastern United lar uses of impoundments to those in the States where variability in precipita- Southeastern United States. tion patterns and amounts have caused There are few large rivers on the main drought and water supply concerns, re- 90 lisa davis, david m. brommer, and enrique rodriquez-loeches diez-argüelles

Figure π. Small agropecuario located in neighborhood of Havana. gional climatic variability is a significant ≤≠≠≥). Successful evacuation of popula- concern throughout Cuba. Centella et al. tion centers towards the island interior (∞ΩΩΩ) noted the sensitivity of Cuba’s and away from the direct path of land fall- physical environment to changes in the ing hurricanes has proven essential in re- character of precipitation and the poten- ducing the risk of loss of life, as is the case tial impact such changes may have on eco- in the Southeastern U.S. nomic and environmental interests within the country. For example, the eastern side conclusions of the Cuban main island is a major agri- cultural region and in recent times, has Environmental change is a topic of been shown to be more drought prone global significance and understanding the than in years past (Solano et al. ≤≠≠∏). processes involved in its occurrence, both The cause of drought frequency changes natural and anthropogenic in origin, is key may be related to the influence of large- to predicting future changes in the envi- scale atmospheric circulation on tem- ronment. Socio-economic and cultural perature and precipitation variability changes in Cuba beginning in the ∞ΩΩ≠s (Naranjo and Centella ∞ΩΩ∫; Centalla that led to liberalization of the tourism ∞ΩΩΩ). Cuba and the Southeastern U.S. and agricultural economic sectors have also share similar hurricane impact con- had direct and highly visible impacts on cerns, with Cuba having similar landfall both the urban and natural landscape by probabilities as coastal sections of the decreasing the amount of undeveloped Southeastern United States (Pielke et al. coastline, increasing gentrification efforts Observations of Environmental Change in Cuba 91

Figure ∫. Relatively large organoponico in Miramar neighborhood of Havana. in historic neighborhoods, and conver- impacts affecting the Southeastern United sion of urban space to agricultural land. States could be better understood by wid- Globally common drivers of environmen- ening our geographical scope of analysis tal change are also present in Cuba, such to include the Caribbean (Torres ≤≠≠∑). as human modification of river systems for flood mitigation and irrigation and in- authors’ note creased drought frequency related to re- gional climate variability. In this sense, We were able to travel to Cuba under a environmental changes experienced in license granted to the University of Ala- Cuba are similar to those occurring in the bama by the U.S. Treasury Department, Southeastern United States. Our observa- which allows faculty of the University of tions support the assertion of previous re- Alabama to develop educational and re- searchers (Gamble ≤≠≠∂) that the concept search partnerships with colleagues in of the Southeast as a region should be Cuba from the University of Havana and broadened to include the Caribbean due specific government ministries. With the to their historical, cultural, and environ- current nature of diplomatic relations be- mental connections and that global pro- tween the United States and Cuba, it is ob- cesses of environmental change and their viously difficult for U.S. geographers not 92 lisa davis, david m. brommer, and enrique rodriquez-loeches diez-argüelles located at universities with Treasury De- from their government, travel to the partment licenses to travel to Cuba for United States for professional presenta- research, which can make conducting re- tions and conferences provided they are search in Cuba challenging. However, col- officially invited by the organization to par- laboration via e-mail is a very real option ticipate and the organization agrees to and one commonly used by Cubans to fa- meet all costs associated with their travel cilitate international research collabora- (essentially act as sponsors). We strongly tion. The Institute of Tropical Geography encourage the AAG and SEDAAG to de- located in Havana is the primary location velop resources that would allow such and government office for professional visits to take place. geographers in Cuba. We highly recom- mend U.S. geographers interested in col- acknowledgements laborating with Cuban Geographers to We would like to thank an anonymous re- contact Cuban geographers directly via viewer whose comments greatly improved the e-mail. E-mail information and research quality of this article, the College of Arts and interests of individuals working at the In- : Cuba-Alabama Academic Initiative at stitute can be found in English on the In- the University of Alabama, for their assistance stitute’s homepage located at the follow- in facilitating our travel to Cuba. ing URL—http://www.geotech.cu/ingles/ igt≠∞.htm. Geographers can also establish references contacts through the Cuban Society of Ge- Alvarez, J. and Peurta, R. ∞ΩΩ∂. State ography based at the Institute of Tropical intervention in Cuban agriculture: Impact Geography. In our experience, we have on organization and performance. World found Cuban geographers very interested Development ≤≤(∞∞):∞∏∏≥–∞∏π∑. in research collaboration, as they are ea- Baisre, J.A. and Arboleya, Z. ≤≠≠∏. Going ger to share their geographic research against the flow: Effects of river damming with a global audience. In addition to the in Cuban fisheries. Fisheries Research special travel permission necessary from ∫∞(≤–≥):≤∫≥–≤Ω≤. the U.S. government, a special visa is re- Centella, A. T. Guitierrez, M. Limia, and quired for U.S. Citizens conducting re- R. Rivero Jaspe. ∞ΩΩΩ. Climate change search in Cuba, and a requirement of the scenarios for impact assessment in Cuba. visa is having a Cuban sponsor, usually a Climate Research ∞≤:≤≤≥–≤≥≠. research collaborator. Therefore, estab- Gamble, D.W. ≤≠≠∂. Rethinking the region: lishing a research collaborator prior to ar- SEDAAG and the Caribbean. Southeastern rival in Cuba is pivotal to obtaining a visa Geographer ∂∂:∫–∞∂. that permits travel to Cuba for research. INRH (Instituto Nacional de Recursos One other pathway that may be more Hidráulicos). ≤≠≠∫. Historia de la hidráulica viable for facilitating U.S. and Cuban ge- en Cuba. Accessed at http://www.hidro.cu/. ographer collaboration and interaction Jimenez, A.N. ∞ΩΩ∫. Geologia. Fundacion de la is through professional associations and Naturaleza y el Hombre, La Habana, Cuba. their annual meetings, such as AAG and Lecce, S.A. and Alderman, D.H. ≤≠≠∂. The SEDAAG. Cubans can, with permission Southeastern Geographer: Looking back, Observations of Environmental Change in Cuba 93

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