Implemented through the IRIS Climate Foundation and the GEF Small Grants Programme, with technical advice from the Center for Coastal Ecosystem Research (CIEC), the project “Strengthening the coastal resilience of the Manatí community, Turiguanó People's Council, with an ecosystem-based adaptation approach” promotes actions through nature-based solutions aimed at providing services that increase resilience and reduce the vulnerability of the ecosystem and the community to the impacts of climate change.
This was presented at the recently concluded kickoff workshop, which brought together all stakeholders to exchange ideas, share experiences, create synergies, and establish the main guidelines for carrying out the planned activities. According to Evelyn Marichal Arbona, MSc, a researcher at CIEC, the intervention area covers 225.23 hectares and includes the Manatí community, comprised of 107 residents who are the project's primary beneficiaries. Furthermore, it notes that the area is located within Ramsar site number 1235, the "Great Northern Wetland of Ciego de Ávila," the second largest of its kind in Cuba; which also holds IBA status (Code CU012) for being an important habitat for birds. However, environmental and social problems converge in the area, impacting the environment and local residents. These include decomposing water, changes in land use, saline soils, silted-up lagoons, exotic species, selective logging of native plants, and poaching and illegal fishing. Added to limitations in the supply of drinking water, scarce sources of livelihood in the community, poor housing conditions, insufficient infrastructure and services (education, transportation, health, telephone service), as well as a marked aging population and the exodus to other settlements, were the main motivations for launching a project that not only focuses on community-based ecosystem conservation but also provides direct benefits to its residents, with an emphasis on women, children, and adolescents. Meeting in the Manatí community: Given the complex situation described above, the aim is to implement sustainable initiatives that promote socioeconomic development and adaptation to the effects of climate change, with the support of various participating actors and entities, such as the Turiguanó People's Council, the "Celia Sánchez Manduley" Credit and Services Cooperative, and the Turiguanó Genetic Livestock Company, in addition to the coordinating entities and the community. Among the proposals, the assisted natural regeneration of 80 hectares of mangrove and 50 hectares of marsh forest stands out. A tree nursery with a composting system as a source of organic matter will be created for this purpose. Twenty hectares occupied by exotic species will be recovered, and the resulting biomass will be used for charcoal production. The final day of the workshop was attended by community leaders. Rainwater harvesting systems will be installed to improve the population's quality of life and contribute to the conservation of this precious resource. Three electric tricycles will be acquired for transporting equipment, seedlings, and personnel. Alongside all this transformation, the capacities of the residents will be strengthened through an integrated system of actions, activities, and communication. In this regard, the President of the People's Council, Silvia González García, emphasized her commitment to the project and highlighted the community members' willingness to support the planned tasks. Printed from the PPD workshop program. Roberto Rondón Reyes, one of the community leaders, also noted that the initiative, by focusing on ecosystem restoration, contributes to raising awareness among Manatí residents about the challenges posed by climate change, provides tools to improve their lives, and benefits society and the economy. Furthermore, the implementing organizations acknowledge that they are far from being able to solve all of the community's problems; however, the actions undertaken offer benefits, both social and environmental, that help address previously limited basic needs. Nevertheless, this is only the beginning of future collaborative projects that integrate sustainable management, conservation, and ecosystem rehabilitation to continue striving for a resilient Manatí.
