Cuba

The Cuban archipelago, located in the Caribbean Sea, consists of the Island of Cuba, the Isle of Youth, and around 1,600 islets and cays. The island of Cuba is the largest in the archipelago, with a population of around 11 million people and a territorial extension of 104,338.33 km2.

Cuba possesses a cultural and natural wealth of great value, which, due to its characteristics and representativeness, has led to the UNESCO declaration of several sites as World Heritage. Nonetheless, Cuba encounters considerable susceptibility to the consequences of climate change, with various factors contributing to this vulnerability:

Geographic location and extreme weather conditions

Cuba is highly vulnerable and faces significant challenges regarding climate change. It is exposed to the risks of extreme weather phenomena such as hurricanes and tropical storms, which have become more frequent and intense in the last decade. Coastal communities and vital infrastructure on the island are vulnerable to flooding and strong winds when affected by these events.

Environmental degradation

Current climate scenarios predict high levels of environmental degradation for the present century in Cuba. Changes in precipitation patterns, prolonged droughts, and soil degradation directly affect the agricultural sector, by reducing yields and putting food security at risk, therefore impacting the livelihoods of many farmers.

Sea level rise and coastal vulnerability

In addition to these challenges, Cuba's coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs and mangroves, are threatened due to increasing ocean temperatures and acidity. These ecosystems are essential for protecting the coast, preserving biodiversity, and supporting the fishing industry, making their degradation a major concern for ecological balance and economic sustainability in the nation.

Despite its vulnerability, Cuba is working to enhance its resilience and proactively addressing climate change. The State Plan for Confronting Climate Change is one of the main actions the government has designed for this purpose. It establishes five strategic actions, including adapting agricultural and livestock activities, especially those most relevant to the country's food security, to changes in land use resulting from rising sea levels and drought. This includes reducing crop areas near the coasts or affected by saltwater intrusion, diversifying crops, improving soil conditions, and introducing and developing varieties resistant to the new temperature scenario. International cooperation and support are crucial to help Cuba address the complex challenges posed by climate change and ensure the preservation of its unique cultural heritage and natural resources.

Currently, the Resilient Caribbean Communities (CCR) project is being implemented in Cuba through two institutions in the eastern part of the country:

• Bioeco: The project's area of influence is primarily in the southeast, in the province of Santiago de Cuba, specifically on the south side of the Sierra de la Gran Piedra, including one of the most densely populated parts of the Baconao Biosphere Reserve.
• Upsa: The project's area of influence covers the northeastern part of the Cuchillas del Toa Biosphere Reserve, located in north-eastern Cuba. Part of its territory is in the province of Guantánamo, extending northwards to the province of Holguín. The actions of the project will be implemented within its core zones, including Alejandro de Humboldt National Park.