Marine Protected Areas- Cuba

Photo: CNAP

Developing Cuba’s blue economy and strengthening Marine Protected Areas within Cuba's National System of Protected Areas

Background

Cuba has demonstrated a strong commitment to  biodiversity conservation through its National System of Protected Areas (SNAP), which actively involves local communities in the declaration and management of its protected areas. This system currently includes 144 protected areas, over 50% of which are marine, covering 17.8% of the land area and 26.2% of the marine insular platform (continental shelf). However, according to international standards—i.e. the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), which calculations are made on countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs)—the actual coverage of marine protected areas in Cuba is estimated at only 4%. This provides a valuable opportunity for Cuba to scale its conservation efforts and scale its existing successes from the coastal shelf into deeper waters.

Beyond expanding coverage, many existing protected areas also face challenges such as limited management resources, insufficient technical training, and a lack of financial sustainability. These issues are particularly pressing given the importance of ecosystems like mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs, which are vital for both biodiversity and blue carbon sequestration—an essential nature-based strategy for climate change mitigation.

In this context, the project aims to contribute to the development of the blue economy and to strengthen the Marine Protected Areas within Cuba’s National System of Protected Areas. Specifically, it seeks to expand marine protection, promote the recognition of other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), and improve the management of priority conservation sites. It also aims to establish sustainable financial mechanisms that support local coastal communities, assess the blue carbon potential of key ecosystems, and build local capacity through targeted training in marine area management and blue economy practices.

PROCARIBE+ Interventions

The PROCARIBE+ Project supports marine conservation in Cuba through three main components. Its actions are rooted in close collaboration with the National Center for Protected Areas (CNAP).

The first component focuses on expanding and improving the national network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This includes supporting the creation of two new MPAs, strengthening management practices and building capacity in two existing sites, and promoting the recognition of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) as an official tool for marine conservation in the country.

As part of Cuba’s broader climate resilience strategy, the second component involves a blue carbon storage capacity assessment of coastal marine ecosystems in pilot sites within marine protected areas, as a measure to mitigate the effects of climate change on biodiversity. 

The third component targets the development of sustainable socio-ecological alternatives for coastal communities. By working directly with two communities closely connected to MPAs, the project promotes blue economy initiatives that improve livelihoods while protecting natural resources.

All components are supported by capacity-building activities aimed at technicians, specialists, and decision-makers. These efforts ensure that conservation actions are not only effective, but also sustainable and locally driven, strengthening Cuba’s long-term ability to protect its marine ecosystems.

UNOPS Panama will provide operational support to the Centro Nacional de Áreas Protegidas de Cuba, to implement the main core areas of action defined under the PROCARIBE+ Project , though the following range of activities:

• Creation of New Marine Protected Areas: Comprehensive proposals will be developed for submission to the relevant authorities for the designation of Bajos de Sancho Pardo (21,140 ha) and the Seamounts in southern Cuba (891,300 ha), including scientific assessments and stakeholder consultations.
• Improvement of  Existing MPAs management : capacities will be strengthened in two existing protected areas — Las Picúas–Cayo del Cristo (including 40,250 ha of marine area) and Lanzanillo–Pajonal–Fragoso Wildlife Refuges (with 76,490 ha of marine area). This will involve gap assessments, equipment provision, training in SMART technologies, and enhancements to surveillance systems.
• Recognition and Monitoring of OECMs: The project will support the development of a national legal framework and provide training to identify, recognize, and report Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) as tools for conservation.
• Blue Carbon Assessment: In Ciénaga de Zapata National Park, blue carbon ecosystems will be mapped and inventoried, with training provided and tools acquired to support ongoing monitoring
•  Sustainable Blue Economy in Coastal Communities: In communities of Nazabal (RF Lanzanillo-Pajonal-Fragoso) and Carahatas (RF Las Picúas-Cayos del Cristo), the project will identify resource-use conflicts, engage key stakeholders, and implement alternative livelihood strategies, with a strong focus on gender equity and capacity building.

• The PROCARIBE+ Project aims to deliver important environmental, social, and economic benefits to support marine and coastal conservation in Cuba, including:
• Enhanced Protection of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems:  The project will contribute to conserving vital habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves, which are essential for biodiversity, coastal resilience, and climate regulation.
• Sustainable Livelihoods and Community Empowerment : the project will help coastal communities create sustainable livelihood options that both improve their well-being and protect marine resources. Local communities will be actively engaged and empowered to implement alternative strategies that reduce environmental pressures.
• Increased Awareness and Environmental Stewardship: the project will foster greater understanding of marine conservation’s importance, encouraging knowledge sharing and a culture of environmental responsibility among stakeholders.

Beneficios esperados:

El proyecto PROCARIBE+ tiene como objetivo aportar importantes beneficios ambientales, sociales y económicos para apoyar la conservación marina y costera en Cuba, entre los que se incluyen:

• Mejora de la protección de los ecosistemas marinos y costeros: el proyecto contribuirá a la conservación de hábitats vitales como los arrecifes de coral, las praderas marinas y los manglares, que son esenciales para la biodiversidad, la resiliencia costera y la regulación del clima.
  Promoverá el reconocimiento oficial de otras medidas de conservación eficaces basadas en áreas (OECM) en Cuba y desarrollará las capacidades nacionales para su identificación, seguimiento y notificación.
• Medios de vida sostenibles y empoderamiento de las comunidades: el proyecto ayudará a las comunidades costeras a crear opciones de medios de vida sostenibles que mejoren su bienestar y protejan los recursos marinos. Las comunidades locales participarán activamente y se les empoderará para implementar estrategias alternativas que reduzcan las presiones ambientales.
• Mayor concienciación y gestión medioambiental: el proyecto fomentará una mayor comprensión de la importancia de la conservación marina, promoviendo el intercambio de conocimientos y una cultura de responsabilidad medioambiental entre las partes interesadas.