Environment of Cuba
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Cuba has one of the most precious environments. While Cuba was being supported by the Soviet Union, the country environment was destroyed. At that time the presence of environmental programs were absent. Cuba’s environment was being destroyed by the population as means for their survival. Some examples of the destruction are, cutting down trees to make coal, and using sand as a resource for construction. The majority of Cuban companies deposited waste and sediment into Havana Bay, which contaminated the water. Most of these environmental problems were found by some environmentalists, but the Cuban government neglected to publicate these findings.[1] The government failed to provide the community with the adequate resources; this caused the Cuban people to care less about the environment and more about their needs. A large number of animal species went extinct because Cuban people turned to animals as a source of food.
Environmental Causes
Soil degradation and desertification are the main causes of environmental problems. In addition, Cuba has other issues such as deforestation, water pollution, the loss of biological diversity, and air pollution. Soil degradation and desertification are produced by the lack of good farming techniques and natural disasters. Deforestation is killing the forest, for example, cutting down trees. Water pollution is the contamination of water caused by different industries.[2] Also, the loss of biological diversity is caused by the extinction of different animal species. Lastly, air pollution largely caused by the increasing number of “old” cars that fill Cuba’s streets.
Environmental Solutions
One of the main solutions used by Cuba to regulate the environmental problem was creating an Environmental Educational program. The reason why Environmental Education program helped with the regulation of environmental problem was because Cuban people became more educated on onserving the environment.[3] For example, the community was contributing to neighborhood clean-up techniques. The government created new methods to prevent the destruction of the environment, such as organic farming versus using chemicals to treat the lands. Designated areas were built for garbage and industrial waste instead of dumping them into the Havana Bay.
References
- ^ Diaz-Briquets D. Water, Development, and Environment in Cuba; A First Look. US Department of Labor; 1976.
- ^ United Nations Environment Program. Conference on Water, Report of Cuba. Volunteer Hydraulic. 2001; 13(39): 47-59.
- ^ Skanavis, Constantina; Sarri, Evelina. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology. December 2004. Vol: 11 Issue 4, p356-363.