A Geographic Perspective of Cuba’s Changing Landscapes

ISBN-13: 9783031063206 / Angielski / Miękka / 2023

Jennifer Gebelein

Opis

This book is based on research that gives the reader a nonfiction view of how Cuba’s landscape has changed since the time when Columbus first set foot on the island and encountered the Indigenous peoples who lived there in 1492 to present day.An analysis of landscape change over time is presented and that transformation from a heavily forested island to less than (currently) 18% forest cover is described. The government has established a system of protected areas and strong governmental controls over environmental policies and the manner with which the island can be built upon by foreign investors, urban expansion projects, or natural resource exploitation.Current GIS and remote sensing research of Cuba’s atmosphere, physical landscape and aquatic features is provided to underscore the complex environmental structures that epitomize Cuba. The author discusses past, present and future impact factors including history, technological assessments, laws and policies, relationships with other countries and education.

Spis treści

1 Historical Background of Cuban Land Cover Change

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 Uniqueness of Cuba 

1.2 Landscape Influence of Early Indians in Cuba 

1.3 Summary of Land Cover Change from Spanish Conquest to 1950

1.3.1 People’s Impacts – 1950

1.3.2 Livestock Impacts – 1950 

1.3.3 Precious Wood Impacts – 1950

1.3.4 Tobacco Impacts – 1950

1.3.5 Sugar Impacts – 1950

1.3.6 Other Impacts

1.4 Evolution of Land Cover from 1950 to Present Day

1.5 Where Was the Greatest and Least Change?

1.5.1 An Acknowledgement to Past Classification Efforts

References

2 Linking Causal Factors to Areas of Highest Change

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Reasons for Significant Landscape Changes

References

3 Governmental Organization and Control Over Environmental Policies

3.1 Introduction 

3.2 A Specific Focus on Conservation Management,

and Protection of (Flora/Fauna) Species

3.2.1 Ministry of the Fishing Industry

3.2.2 Ministry of Agriculture

3.2.3 Ministry of Sugar

3.2.4 Ministry of Economics and Planning (Previously the Ministry of Planning)

3.2.5 Ministry of Tourism

3.2.6 Ministry of Informatics and Communications (MIC)

3.3 Human Health Links to Environmental Policies

References

4 Establishment and Description of Current Park/Protected Areas System

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Establishment of Protected Areas and History.

4.3 Different Levels of Protection (and How Are They Designated?) 

4.3.1 Marine and Coastal Protected Areas

4.3.2 Differences Between Land and Marine-Based Management Protection System

4.3.3 How Are Parks (or Any Protected Areas) Maintained?

4.4 Examples of Native/Exotic Species of Flora and Fauna

References

5 History of Remote Sensing and GIS as It Relates to Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover Changes Over Time 

5.1 Introduction and Historical Context

5.2 Remote Sensing

5.3 Cuba’s Participation in Space Science

5.4 Brief Remote Sensing Technical Background

5.5 What Makes a Good Interpreter? 

5.5.1 Personal Aside

5.6 Digital Image Processing

5.7 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Overview

5.8 GIS in Cuba

5.9 Mapping Agricultural Favorability and Productivity Using GIS

5.10 Impacts of Urban Expansion and Development Using Satellite Imagery and GIS Data.

References 

6 Cuban Environment, the Past, Present and Future

6.1 Introduction 

6.2 Influential Factors on Cuba’s Lands and Coastal Waters 

6.2.1 On Land 

6.2.2 Green Revolution 

6.2.3 The Special Period 

6.2.4 Reanimation of the Economy

6.2.5 Climate Change and Indicator Species on Land

6.2.6 Waters (Influential Factors)

6.3 Current Actors Impacting Cuba’s Landscape and Coastal Waters

Contents

Contents ix

6.4 Current Plans to Protect or Develop? 

6.5 Cuban Attitude Towards Environmental Conservation Issues?

6.5.1 Reflections on Preservation

6.6 Summary of Positive and Negative Elements Influencing

Natural Land Cover and Future Possibilities

References

Index