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),