Cuba to Plant 135 Million Trees
http://www.plastics.com/content/articles/12434/1/Cuba-to-Plant-135-Million-Trees/Page1.html
L.S. Sya
L. S. Sya [please visit Deforestation Watch.] Deforestation Watch was established to drive sustainability mainstream. Striving to be a center of green news, solutions and all things green, we also help corporations looking for green guidance. By L.S. Sya
Published on 07/30/2008
The UN Environment Program (UNEP) international tree planting campaign, "Plant for the Planet:Billion Tree Campaign", aimed at recovering forests globally has begun garnering support One nation that has embraced the concept is Cuba, which will plant 135 million trees this year to recover forests in the Caribbean country
The UN Environment Program (UNEP) international tree planting campaign, "Plant for the Planet:Billion Tree Campaign", aimed at recovering forests globally has begun garnering support. One nation that has embraced the concept is Cuba, which will plant 135 million trees this year to recover forests in the Caribbean country. National Forest Director Elias Linares Landa said that Cuba hopes to cover 12.6% of the total planned by all countries and the project will involve social organizations and children.
Linares explains, "Plant your tree is the name of the crusade which began this past June 21 and will end in mid December."
"With this plan, we will compensate for some of the global deforestation that destroys three billion adult trees each year," said Linares.
Linares said some 2.7 million hectares of land in Cuba was currently forested and that the country had its own forestry fund to develop and manage forests, wildlife and education programs.
The devastation of the forests begun in colonial times and continued under the Republic as more land was transformed for cultivation and cattle rearing. By the time of the Revolution in 1959, forests only covered 13.4% of the nation. The figure rose to 21.1% in 1997 and to 24.95%, with more than 2.7 million hectares of woodland in 2006.
Linares points out that such progress within four decades illustrates the government’s commitment to re-establishing the rich vegetation distinct to the island.
A comprehensive program of reforestation was established in 1959 and continues to be a priority.
"First of all," Linares explained, "Our country is planting from 60-64,000 hectares of trees annually. Cuba, Uruguay, Chile and Costa Rica are among the few countries in Latin America seeing their forests expanding."
Elías Linares added that the reforestation is carried out based on species and goals. There are some specialized plantings which have as their purpose the protection of the banks of bodies of water, serving as protection against floods.
According to official figures, Cuba increased its forests by more than 33,000 hectares and reduced emissions of pollutants last year.
A Forestry Law prohibiting deforestation and regulating forests was established in 1998, which proved indispensible in the protection of forests and preservation of water resources.
"Our law is modern," said Linares, "It includes all the measures being taken around the world based on the principle of making natural resources sustainable. A decree and rules to be followed in the event of violations are also included. "
"Within the province of the law’s regulations, all forestry activity is to be guided by the principle of no reduction of forested areas. That is to say that what is happening in other parts of the world will not happen in Cuba. Every year 13 million hectares of forest land is lost to agriculture and raising cattle. And the intensity of exploitation of forest resources is increasing as well," Linares said.
"Our law, honored by the FAO (UN Food and Agricultural Organization) with the Edouard Saouma Prize, 1998-1999, prohibits the bulldozing of forests, unless a special investment need arises. In this event only the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers has the authority to allow it," added Linares.
"What we call the Forestry Program of the Cuban Republic provides an outline of the country’s policy through 2015 and indicates what should be planted each year. It proposes, as well, how to develop the management of forests, their care, conservation and betterment. It defines generally the volume of production allowed in the immediate future," Linares explained.
Linares pointed out that fire was the fundamental enemy of Cuban forests and 10 million hectares over the last decade have been affected by fire. However, he insisted that this was not a very large area compared to other countries.
Linares explains, "Plant your tree is the name of the crusade which began this past June 21 and will end in mid December."
"With this plan, we will compensate for some of the global deforestation that destroys three billion adult trees each year," said Linares.
Linares said some 2.7 million hectares of land in Cuba was currently forested and that the country had its own forestry fund to develop and manage forests, wildlife and education programs.
The devastation of the forests begun in colonial times and continued under the Republic as more land was transformed for cultivation and cattle rearing. By the time of the Revolution in 1959, forests only covered 13.4% of the nation. The figure rose to 21.1% in 1997 and to 24.95%, with more than 2.7 million hectares of woodland in 2006.
Linares points out that such progress within four decades illustrates the government’s commitment to re-establishing the rich vegetation distinct to the island.
A comprehensive program of reforestation was established in 1959 and continues to be a priority.
"First of all," Linares explained, "Our country is planting from 60-64,000 hectares of trees annually. Cuba, Uruguay, Chile and Costa Rica are among the few countries in Latin America seeing their forests expanding."
Elías Linares added that the reforestation is carried out based on species and goals. There are some specialized plantings which have as their purpose the protection of the banks of bodies of water, serving as protection against floods.
According to official figures, Cuba increased its forests by more than 33,000 hectares and reduced emissions of pollutants last year.
A Forestry Law prohibiting deforestation and regulating forests was established in 1998, which proved indispensible in the protection of forests and preservation of water resources.
"Our law is modern," said Linares, "It includes all the measures being taken around the world based on the principle of making natural resources sustainable. A decree and rules to be followed in the event of violations are also included. "
"Within the province of the law’s regulations, all forestry activity is to be guided by the principle of no reduction of forested areas. That is to say that what is happening in other parts of the world will not happen in Cuba. Every year 13 million hectares of forest land is lost to agriculture and raising cattle. And the intensity of exploitation of forest resources is increasing as well," Linares said.
"Our law, honored by the FAO (UN Food and Agricultural Organization) with the Edouard Saouma Prize, 1998-1999, prohibits the bulldozing of forests, unless a special investment need arises. In this event only the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers has the authority to allow it," added Linares.
"What we call the Forestry Program of the Cuban Republic provides an outline of the country’s policy through 2015 and indicates what should be planted each year. It proposes, as well, how to develop the management of forests, their care, conservation and betterment. It defines generally the volume of production allowed in the immediate future," Linares explained.
Linares pointed out that fire was the fundamental enemy of Cuban forests and 10 million hectares over the last decade have been affected by fire. However, he insisted that this was not a very large area compared to other countries.