Cuban Groups Work to Protect Threatened Species

Why this is here: The Manglar Vive project has restored 84 kilometers of mangrove forest along the Mayabeque coast, bolstering the health of this critical ecosystem.

Researchers using the Cuban Biodiversity portal recently studied climate change impacts on species distribution across Cuba. The study predicts significant biodiversity loss in low-lying areas like the Zapata Swamp, the Cauto Valley, and the Jardines de la Reina archipelago by 2050, especially if greenhouse gas emissions remain high.

Several projects are underway to mitigate these losses. UNESCO’s MangRes project restores mangroves in the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, while the Manglar Vive project has reforested 84 kilometers of coastline in Mayabeque province over the last decade. Scientists published research in 2025 warning that the Antillean manatee faces extinction due to human activity, even within protected areas.

Organizations like Nativa, Red de Microviveros, founded in 2021, focus on educating communities and protecting native flora. The Rufford Foundation previously supported work to map and protect the endangered Polymita sulphurosa snail in Guantánamo and Holguín provinces. Researchers acknowledge that data on species distribution outside protected areas remains incomplete, hindering effective conservation efforts.