Mapping Biodiversity in Cuba

A collaboration between Earthwatch Institute, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Institute of Ecology and Systematics of Havana has been established to map biodiversity in Cuba’s Lomas de Banao Ecological Reserve (LBER). Long-term political complexities have prevented collaborative international research until recently. The primary goal of this project is to survey bird, plant, amphibian and reptile species, many of which are endemic to Cuba, in this Reserve to establish a baseline for conservation. The presence of the chytrid fungus in amphibians will also be examined. Finally, a community outreach program will be established to include local people in the protection of the Reserve.

The project is led by Earthwatch lead scientist Dr. Natalia Rossi who is also the Cuba Country Manager for the Mesoamerica and Western Caribbean Program at the Wildlife Conservation Society. This project is co-led by Maikel Canizares Morera M. Sc. from the Institute of Ecology and Systematics of Havana. Other experts from Cuba will join Earthwatch Teams as their time allows. Citizen scientists recruited by Earthwatch Institute will help with intensive monitoring of biodiversity specifically birds, trees, reptiles and amphibians.

You can learn more about this project and how you can join an Earthwatch Team by going to

http://earthwatch.org/Expeditions/Mapping-Biodiversity-in-Cuba less ↑