Cuba
Let me conclude with a discussion of our work in a still more closed society: Cuba. Under authoritarian rule since 1959, Cuba offers an important opportunity for our conservation program.
The Cuban natural environment is perhaps the most intact in the Caribbean. The government has assembled an impressive legal framework for preservation. It is party to, and respects, most international conservation treaties. Hundreds of conservation professionals have been trained, and the country has set aside vast areas for protection of biodiversity.
The coral reef archipelago on Cuba’s south coast is the most pristine in the Western Hemisphere. Almost a quarter of the Island retains its forest cover. Its populations of flamingo, crocodile, and rare mammals are generally in much better shape than elsewhere in the Caribbean.
When the U.S. embargo is eventually lifted, economic growth and unmanaged development could threaten conservation in Cuba. MacArthur is trying to prepare for that eventuality, despite the difficulties imposed under American law, which severely restricts our choice of partners and the nature of our support.
So far, we have given 24 grants (about $4 million) to address short-term needs. We are building a platform for expanded work when U.S.-Cuban relations are normalized. Our grantees and foundation staff have established professional relationships with Cuban groups that include the University of Havana, the National Natural History Museum, the Ministry of Environment, the Eastern Center of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, and the Núñez Jiménez Foundation for Nature and Man.
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MacArthur’s grantmaking helps to preserve Cuba’s biodiversity.
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