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Magic in Guanahacabibes
22December
Articles

Magic in Guanahacabibes

In 1971 Unesco began the project "Man and Biosphere", which aimed to reconcile the mentality and the use of natural resources, outlining the current concept of sustainable development. As part of that project representative geographic locations of the different habitats in the world were selected, covering both terrestrial and maritime ecosystems.

These places or areas which are known as Biosphere Reserves are internationally recognized and are selected for their scientific interest. Their functions include the conservation and protection of biodiversity, economic and human development in these areas, research, education and information exchange between different stocks, which form a global network.

In this peninsula, declared by UNESCO National Park and Biosphere Reserve, occurs every year a new edition of the Migratory Bird Festival, organized by specialists ** of the  Guanahacabibes National Park, directors and officers of CITMA.


The Guanahacabibes National Park, located in the westernmost point of the Cuban archipelago: Cabo de San Antonio, is one of the largest natural reserves in the Island. With virgin forests, it possesses a vast, diverse and varied flora and fauna. The known zunzuncito or "bird fly" lives there, the worlds smallest. Many populations of parrots, iguanas, crabs and other exotic animals can be sighted in their territories. It also has valuable plant species.

In this peninsula, declared by UNESCO National Park and Biosphere Reserve, occurs every year a new edition of the Migratory Bird Festival, organized by specialists of the Guanahacabibes National Park, directors and officers of CITMA supported by the territorial authorities and with the participation of residents, students and teachers of the schools in the communities.

 

In every festival educational lectures are given where issues of migration of birds are approach, how they are produced, the route through Cuba and the species that migrate over Guanahacabibes, making emphasizes in the prey, and environmental education in the western Cuba. These issues motivate the exchange between participants, mainly children, who appropriate the knowledge imparted in different working hours and go on excursions to visit different ecosystems to perform, with the help of a specialist guide, observation and identification of some species of migratory birds, with the help of binoculars.

The contest of migratory birds is one of the regular activities of the festival, where students of all levels of education schools in the area of the Biosphere Reserve participate in the genres of story, drawing and poetry.

The cultural gala organized by teachers and instructors, with children as protagonists, is occasion to reward the winners and children involved in other activities, deserving each a memory of this important festival.

 "To the birds, wings
 To the fish, fins;
 To men who live
 in Nature
 the knowledge of nature: those are their wings "
 José Martí