CUBA

The Sabana-Camaguey Ecosystem Region lies just north of the central part of Cuba and includes the Sabana-Camaguey archipelago, the largest group of islands in the Caribbean region. Internationally ranked as a priority for ecological conservation, the Ecosystem Region was facing development pressures that necessitated an integrated approach to planning for tourism and petroleum exploration while preserving the ecological integrity of the archipelago. 

Originally conceived as a biodiversity protection assessment of one small island, Cayo Coco (the size of Barbados), a rapid assessment of the region by James Dobbin revealed much larger issues of environmental and development concern. It was clear from the start that a larger, eco-regional approach to developing the region was required. Dobbin International (DI) identified and proposed an alternative project area totaling 72,000 km2 including the entire archipelago, the mainland watershed of the five provinces adjacent to the coastal waters of the Ecosystem Region, and the ocean zone extending to the international maritime boundary in the Bahamas Strait. Incorporating the unique ecological dimensions into the planning area allowed for a comprehensive, integrated approach to identifying and resolving key conservation and development issues with the DI-led strategic plan undertaken in full collaboration with outstanding Cuba experts. 

The strategic plan included every sector in the region – and is summarized under the following components: 

• Identified and planned for a series of new national protected areas (terrestrial and marine), 
• Initiated a new national protected area management classification system (a modified version of the IUCN system) including marine and terrestrial environments for economic development and priority conservation, 
• Developed a comprehensive geospatial (GIS) database and framework to manage spatial marine and terrestrial information for the region (as well as intense training in the use of the geospatial database) and undertook geospatial analyses to identify issues and actions, 
• Identified Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) that became the core areas for conservation, protection and the newly defined SCE national parks and protected area system, 

• Prepared protected area management plans for six newly identified priority protection areas, 
• Prepared priority tourist resort development zone plans on main islands identifying key areas for conservation and areas and sites most suitable for sustainable resort development, 
• Prepared a master tourist resort development strategy and action plan – e.g., develop mainland coastal towns and reduce development activities, programs, and pressures on the sensitive islands, 
• Developed carrying capacity for tourism development zones, and 
• Developed strategies and action plans to incorporate sustainable green building design, construction and operation into tourist resorts. 

The project also included detailed master plans for six cays in the greater Sabana-Camaguey archipelago and region. The master plans critiqued existing tourism development infrastructure and plans and found much of the development was destroying the very environment that made these areas attractive to visitors in the first place. Each master plan provided recommendations for enhancing visitor experience while protecting biodiversity. 

Additionally, DI implemented a capacity building program throughout the project to train Cubans in environmentally sound resort development. The program culminated in a three-week international study tour led by James Dobbin to view examples of good and poor tourism and coastal resort development and environmental management and protection in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Bonaire, Costa Rica, Belize and Mexico. James Dobbin also created an opportunity for key Cuban experts to participate for several months training at the University of Toronto Masters-level design studio in landscape architecture and planning (a professional discipline that James Dobbin introduced to Cuba through the SCE region project) to enhance their skills in sustainable green design, land and coastal planning. 

CSLA/AAPC Cuba – Canada Congress 
Conference Theme: Landscape Synergy: An Exchange of Culture, Ideas and Opportunities 

James Dobbin participated as the Keynote Speaker at the 2007 CSLA/AAPC Congress, held in Havana, Cuba on March 3, 2007. James Dobbin’s Keynote Address was entitled: Sustainable Landscapes | Integrated Regional Development and Tourism Planning in the Coastal Zone – Madagascar, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Cuba.