PRODUCTIVITY OF JARDINES DE LA REINA

AZULMAR, AN EXAMPLE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
AZULMAR has been a unique experience for the development of tourism in Cuba.
Water-based infrastructure , live- on- board ships , and low environmental impact activities, such as catch and release fishing and diving mark a turning point in the sustainable development of a country with limited strategic resources (oil, water and minerals), but with excellent natural conditions to develop tourism, with the challenges it implies because of the fragility of the ecosystems upon which this industry is based. In such ecosystems, like those of Jardines de la Reina, land-based constructions will surely bring about severe damages to their stability and functioning.

CONSERVATION OF JARDINES DE LA REINA
The current level of protection of Jardines de la Reina is beyond any doubt, the greatest achievement of AZULMAR, even greater than the revenues, due to the possibilities to preserve and do scientific research in this unique place. With the support of the Ministry of the Fishery Industry (MIP), representing the Cuban government, Resolution 562/96 was issued, instituting a Zone under a Special Regime for Use and Protection (ZBREUP) for this group of islands at the end of 1996, which is equivalent to a Marine Protected Area. With this resolution, two thirds of Jardines de la Reina are protected. Only the capture of lobsters is allowed and the fish AZULMAR needs to supply its facilities. With the scientific information gathered up to now and supported by the Law on the Environment and the Decree-Law on Protected Areas, the institution of the whole area covered by the subarchipelago as a Natural Park is under discussion and pending approval. This will be a significant step towards the conservation of the most pristine of the Cuban group of islands.
The National Park will rule out every non-sustainable activity still existing out of the ZBREUP, such as corral to catch fish during the spawning and run seasons. The conservation and protection of Jardines de la Reina will greatly depend on the support from international community, in spite of the efforts by the Cuban people and government, and specially AZULMAR

BROADCASTING OF INFORMATION ON JARDINES DE LA REINA
The scientific results on Jardines de la Reina have been presented in different conventions and congresses and broadcast by the national media. In 2000, the results of the project “ Conservation of nature and development of tourism in the central-western region of Jardines de la Reina” were presented to the institutions of the province of Ciego de Ávila with interests in the area. This result received the “ RELEVANT ” award at the XIII Forum of Science and Technology corresponding to the province.
In December 2000, the results of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requested by AZULMAR and undertaken by the Coastal Ecosystems Research Center (CIEC) were presented during the 5th Congress on Marine Sciences, MARCUBA 2000, held in Havana. In 2001, the preliminary results of the project “ Characterization and management of the marine ecosystems of Jardines de la Reina” were presented to the participants of the 4th International Sea Fair, FIMAR 2001, held in Cienfuegos. All these results have also had a complete coverage on the province and national media. Thanks to this coverage, people have had the possibility to know not only about the natural beauties of these unparalleled ecosystems but also about the best way to use these resourses, so that Jardines de la Reina may become a national and world heritage.