IUCN Management Category V (Protected Landscape)

IX (Biosphere Reserve)

Biogeographical Province 8.39.13 (Cuban)

Geographical Location Situated 150km from the eastern end of Cuba, the area borders the south coast and includes parts of Santiago Province and Guantānamo Province. The administrative town of Santiago de Cuba is situated 2km west of the biosphere reserve and the coastal towns of Siboney and Daiquiri are situated within the area. 19°52'-20°08'N, 75°16'-75°46'W

Date and History of Establishment The area forms part of the Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra which was created in 1979 by Law No. 27. It was accepted by Unesco as a biosphere reserve in October 1986.

Area 84,600ha, extending up to 22km inland and following 65km of coastline. This is contained within the Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra which covers an approximate area up to 25km wide along about 250km of coastline.

Land Tenure State

Altitude The topography rises from the Santiago basin to the west to the Gran Piedra Sierra in the centre of the reserve and slopes down into Guantānamo province to the east (0-1123m).

Physical Features Although part of the Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra, the area is separated from the Sierra Maestra mountain range by the Santiago basin. Three topographical zones have been identified within the area: low altitude plateau which runs along the coast from the Santiago basin eastwards into Guantānamo province; Gran Piedra Sierra where the highest land is found; and the Santa Maria de Loreto table, 600m above sea level. The physiography of the area consists of sandstone and agglomerate underlying alluvial valleys, coastal tablelands and foothills (up to 400m) while granitic rocks underlie low mountains (400-1200m). The central area is composed of Paleocene-Eocene volcanoclastic rocks of the Cobre Formation, comprising fragments of travertine and agglomerate, with intercalations of sandstone, travertine and tuff. The complex is cross-cut by large batholithic intrusions, intermediate in composition and consisting of granodiorite and diorite.

Climate Mean annual temperature is 24.7°C and mean annual rainfall is 700mm at sea level. The northern slope is more humid with annual precipitation of 1,500mm at the highest level. Winds are predominantly from the north-north-east, north-east and south.

Vegetation The most important formations are coastal and sub-coastal xeromorphic bush forest with an abundance of tree and column cactii; coastal rocky and sandy vegetation; mangroves; rain forest; cloud forest; mesophilic evergreen forest; gallery and pine forest. Oriental, Sierra Maestra and Pancubano species, with phyto-geographic affinity with the Caribbean, Neotropical and Antillean regions, are found here. One hundred and thirty eight endemic species have been recorded, including 12 hepatics and three rare and endangered species: Melocactus acunai, M. harlowii, Trichipteris strigillosa.

Fauna Some 919 species of fauna, comprising 19 mammals, 60 birds, 29 reptiles, 24 spiders and 787 insects are known to be present. In the biosphere reserve nomination 10 species are mentioned as being threatened but they are not identified. Threatened species believed to exist in the region include: one mammal, bushy-tailed hutia Capromys melanurus (I), which is confined to scattered areas among the four most eastern provinces, and two species of birds, Cuban sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus fringilloides (R) and Florida everglade kite Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus (R).

Cultural Heritage Zones of historical value connected with armed insurrection and French settlements during the Haitian emigration in the last century are studied and preserved.

Local Human Population The buffer zone of 49,140ha supports a population of 28,000. The largest settlement has 640 inhabitants and 21 villages have more than 200 residents.

Visitors and Visitor Facilities Tourism is permitted and there is a recreation centre. There is provision for various student training activities. The Commission of the Environment and Natural Resources has encouraged student activities concerned with the environment and pollution. Transport and guides are provided by the authorities.

Scientific Research and Facilities Baconao has been of interest to scientists for a long time, an important pioneer being the collector Charles Ranstden. Over the last decade more than 80 studies, mostly concerned with the composition and distribution of ecosystems (fauna, flora, vegetation, climate, soil), have been undertaken. The area has various scientific installations, such as meteorological radar, a pluviometric network, satellite tracking, solar energy centre, silviculture study centre, underground laboratory, and a seismological, geophysical and astronomical station. There is an herbarium and wood collection. An ecology station is being built.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management It is not clear why the area was nominated as a biosphere reserve, but the area is known to be relatively unspoilt. Hatibonico Wildlife Refuge lies within the area (Perera and Rosabal, 1986) but information regarding its size and exact location is lacking. A system of zonation has been implemented based on the biological value of areas and human population density. The areas given most protection, including prohibition of all human activity, are those that support primary vegetation. There are four zones: Seccion el Indio, a strip no more than 4km wide running 40km along the coast from the western end of the coastal boundary and covering an area of 14,200ha + 150ha; Seccion Morrillo, which runs the remaining distance along the coast but extends furthur inland, up to 12km, and covers an area of 14,800ha + 150ha; Seccion Gran Piedra, which contains the highest land and covers 13,300ha + 150ha; and an unamed zone of 42,300ha + 150ha which surrounds the Seccion Gran Piedra. A general management plan exists which is intended to encourage the harmonious integration of nature reserves with the construction of roads, hunting, villages and technical and scientific development.

Management Constraints During the last century several North-American companies mined open-cast for iron, as a result of which large areas are devoid of vegetation cover. This coincided with the clearing of mountain forests to make way for coffee plantations set up by French colonists. More recently during the 1940s large areas were dug up for carbon. Present problems include pressures from livestock and wood clearance. It is not clear what form these pressures take.

Staff One hundred and forty three people work in the reserve, including five administrators with university education.

Budget No information

Local Addresses

Plan Baconao Esfera de Areas Protegidas, Calle 13 #256 - Vista Alegre, Aptdo. 335, Santiago de Cuba

References

Garrido, O.H. (1975). Catālogo de las Aves de Cuba. Instituto de Zoologia. Havana.

IUCN (1986). 1986 IUCN red list of threatened animals. Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge. 105 pp.

Perera, A. and Rosabal,P. (1986). Las Areas Protegidas en Cuba. Flora Fauna y Areas Silvestres 2: 13-17.

Date November 1988