Geoheritage Integration in the Management of the Cuban Protected Areas

Abstract

In the last decade, knowledge of Cuban geological heritage has undergone a significant advance, highlighting the active and joint participation of academic, scientific and administrative institutions. The national inventory of geosites, their cartography and dissemination is being carried out throughout the country. At the same time, they are starting to be integrated into the management of protected areas as a main scenario for geoconservation. In the present work, we describe the general peculiarities identifying geological heritage in the National System of Protected Areas, grouped by two fundamental criteria: their delimitation according to types of protected area and the types of singular elements that can be recognized throughout the territory. Similarly, we present an analysis of the results of the national geosite inventory, specifically applied to the context of protected areas, which identifies an information gap taking into account the current management categories, the type of interest and places of high potential not included in the inventory. In this context, the theoretical model for integration of geological heritage is based on the methodology for preparing protected area management plans that is used throughout the country, based on a protocol for the selection of conservation objects of a geological nature, which includes conceptual and methodological aspects from various authors, adapted for Cuba and local initiatives and experiences. Finally, we confirm the need to update and modify the current methodology for the national geosite inventory, develop a training schedule to facilitate its application and involve technical personnel and managers of protected areas, including the geoconservation approach in all management processes and incorporating the selection of geological conservation objects and their integration into the management plans for each protected area.