Overview

Cuban Pine Forests are Cuba’s only indigenous formation dominated by the Caribbean Pine.  Cuban Pine Forests belong to Tropical and Subtropical Coniferous Forest biome. They are located in Western and Eastern Cuba as well as Isla de Juventud for a total of 2,500 square miles (D'Ambrosio). These forests are home to various endemic plant, bird, and insect species.

Cuban Pine Forests

Cuban Pine Forests
Source: Global Species: Google map
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http://www.eoearth.org/article/Cuban_pine_forests

Land Snail

Olive-Capped Warbler

Cuban Tody

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Past

Due to natural causes and human impact, Cuban Pine Forests have gone through many changes. The forests were unaltered, having little deforestation, and more of a closed canopy (D'Ambrosio). Past forests have had more plant diversity and higher numbers of endemic species (Carabia). It was rich with several animal species, including the now endangered bird species, Ivory-billed woodpecker and Cuban kite, as well as archaic fauna like almiqui (Solenodon cubanus) or hutia (Capromys spp.) (D'Ambrosio). More areas were covered in “thick dense woods,” having an abundance of pine trees through Cuba wherever there was poorer soil (Waibel).

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There's no time like the present

Located in Western and Eastern Cuban and Isla de la Juventud, Cuban Pine Forests cover an area of 2,500 square miles. They grow in acid soils, have little water retention, and poor nutrient soil. Although the forests have endemic plant and animal species, each forest region features its own endemic species. For example, the western Cuban Pine Forests plant species, near Pinar Del Rio and Isla de la Juventud, mostly resemble areas like Florida and Yucatan, Mexico. The western forest areas are more abundant, compared to the eastern Cuban forests, and receive less than 59 inches of rain and temperature averages to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The most common plant species include the Caribbean Pine Tree and Tropical Pine Tree and features quartzitic soil.  The eastern Cuban Pine Forests areas include the Sierra Maestra and closely resemble Hispaniola. These forests are at a higher elevation, have lower temperatures, and receive more precipitation. Besides the Caribbean Pine, other pine species found include the Pino de la Maestra and the Cuban Pine (D'Ambrosio).

The island is rich in various plant, bird, and insect species. The forests are well known for its diverse birds, such as: the olive-capped warbler, Cuban kite, ivory-billed woodpecker, Cuban trogon, rose-throated parrot, and Cuban tody. It has several endangered species like the Western Cuban Parrots, Cuban Pine Toad, Cuban kite, and Ivory-billed woodpecker (IUCN).  Many believe the Ivory-billed woodpecker can be found in the eastern Cuban Pine Forests, (D'Ambrosio), although it may be extinct (World Wildlife Fund).

Endangered

Cuban Kite

Cuban Pine Toad

Ivory-billed woodpecker 

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Human Impacts

WWF classifies Cuban Pine Forests as critical/endangered so in Dr. Gillespie’s words, its status is ugly. Alejandro de Humboldt National Park (UNEP-WCMC) and Pico Mogote Ecological Reserve are the only protected Cuban Pine Forests. Still, that only covers 11% of the entire ecoregion (Global Species). There is a wide range of direct human impact, most of which negatively affects the ecoregion. Over 70% of the forests have been altered by human modification and fires, leading to deforestation and regeneration. Human impacts include agriculture- citrus fruit plantations and coffee (UNESCO), mining, forestry operations, grazing, tourism(D’Ambrosio), and the burning and logging of the Caribbean Pine (Arkive). These impacts lead to much habitat destruction of many endangered animals. The forests undergo much plant and animal exploitation, especially with its diverse land snail and bird population (D’Ambrosio). The human benefits of Cuban Pine Forests include tourism, agriculture- Fruit, coffee (UNESCO), timber and resin from pines (Leiva), and the revenue from the plant and animal exploitation (D’Ambrosio),

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Bleak Future

Human beings have utilized and harmed the forests for their own benefit. Unless action is taken, the forests will continue to be endangered or will eventually become extinct. Several species population will decline and there would less plant and animal diversity. Due to the fact that many of the animal species in the forests are endemic to only certain regions of Cuba, the decline in population will eventually lead to their extinction. If the forests continue to go through human modification, there will be no original forests left. As human beings, we should acknowledge our impact on the environment and work together to change it for the better

Human Impact (WWF-D'Ambrosio)	Effect on Forests
Mining	Damages Ozone layer Loss of biodiversity
Grazing	Soil damage Disrupts habitat
Tourism	Cause damage to plants and animal Destruction of habitats for commercial use Forests are not accustomed to high amounts of industry
The Burning and Logging of the Caribbean Pine	Leads to deforestation Regeneration- loss of original species
Agriculture	Monoculture of citrus plants Loss of diversity

Change

There are several ways to improve the human impact towards the Cuban Pine Forests. The most important step would be to conserve and preserve. People should develop a sustainable way to continue utilizing the resources found in the Cuban Pine Forests without causing further damage to its natural habitat. In agriculture, they should plant a variety of crops instead of the monoculture of citrus fruit plants. Only 11% of the forests are protected, leaving 89% susceptible to becoming extinct due to negative human impact. In order to preserve Cuban Pine Forests, the Cuban government should create and enforce more laws to protect more areas. Another improvement is raising awareness on the endangered species and exploitation of the endemic plant and animal species. Through raising awareness, hopefully society will be able to protect these species and decrease and eventually stop the exploitation. Since fires are a huge threat, it is recommended to set broad leafed plants around the forests to act as a barrier against fire. These firebreaks act as a blockade and protect the forests by letting the fire die down once it reaches the barrier (D'Ambrosio). Another recommendation is increased public environmental education in Cuba (UNESCO) so more people can be informed about this interesting ecoregion and the need for the forests to be protected.

Works Cited

Carabia, J. P. "The Vegetation of Sierra De Nipe, Cuba." Ecological Monographs 15.4 (1945): 321-41. JSTOR. Ecological Society of America. Web. 5 Dec. 2012. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/1948426>.

D'Ambrosio, Ugo. "Caribbean Islands: Cuba." Wildlife Conservation, Endangered Species Conservation. Ed. Rosemarie Gnam. N.p., 2012. Web. 05 Dec. 2012. <http://worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/nt0304>.

Hedge, Blair, and Luis Diaz. "Peltophryne Cataulaciceps." (Cuban Pine Toad). N.p., 2004. Web. 05 Dec. 2012. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/54604/0>.

Hernández, Fidel. "UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Information Cuba SIERRA DEL ROSARIO." Unesco.org. UNESCO, 8 Mar. 2011. Web. 5 Dec. 2012. <http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=CUB+01&mode=all>.

Leiva, Angela, and Rosalina Berazain. "CAJALBANA TABLELAND AND PRELUDA MOUNTAIN REGIONCuba (Caribbean)." CPD: Caribbean Islands, Site CB3, Cajálbana Tableland and Preluda Mountain Region,Cuba. N.p., 1997. Web. 05 Dec. 2012. <http://botany.si.edu/projects/cpd/ma/cb3.htm>.

United Nations Environment Programme-World Conservation M. "Alejandro De Humbodlt National Park, Cuba." Eoearth.org. United Nations Environment Programme-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), 21 Nov. 2008. Web. 5 Dec. 2012. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Alejandro_de_Humbodlt_National_Park,_Cuba>.

Waibel, Leo. "Place Names as an Aid in the Reconstruction of the Original Vegetation of Cuba." Geographical Review 33.3 (1943): 376-96. JSTOR. American Geographical Society. Web. 5 Dec. 2012. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/209802>.

World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF). "Global Specied: Ecoregions: Cuban Pine Forests." Globalspecies.org. Myers Enterprises II 2009 - 2012, 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2012. <http://www.globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/NT0304>.

World Wildlife Fund ©. "Terrestrial Ecoregions--Cuban Pine Forests (NT0304)." Web.archive.org. N.p., 2001. Web. 5 Dec. 2012. <http://web.archive.org/web/20100308074922/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0304.html>.