More trees, less pollution in Cuba
Campaign News | Thursday, 28 December 2006
Forest cover is increasing while bays are being cleaned up
Havana, Dec 27 (Prensa Latina) Cuba has dramatically increased its forest and reduced pollution in its main bays and water sources.
Vice Minister for Science, Technology and Environment, Dr. Jose A Diaz, said Cuba is among the few countries in the world to report annual forest expansion, by more than 83 thousand acres just in 2006.
Cuban woods were plundered for over four centuries with a dramatic decline to 14 percent coverage from 1902 to 1959, which was reverted by the January 1, 1959 victory of the Revolution.
The national forest program plans to enhance coverage to over 29.3 percent of national territory in barely ten years.
Also pollution declined by 3.8 percent in all eight basins in the national territory, three percent in main bays and 17 percent in mountain ranges.
Recent evaluation by Planeta Vivo 2006 project of the World Wild Fund says Cuba is the only country to progress towards sustainable productive development without affecting the environment.
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B3B5C19B1-EF03-47F8-96CC-1A92AE7DFBF2%7D)&language=EN
