A single species of tree dominates the Cuban pine forest. This tree is the Carribbean pine tree (Pinus caribaea), which can reach up to 30 meters in height. Some deciduous trees and broadleaved trees, such as Calophyllum pinetorum and Clusia rosea, also exist at higher attitudes in the west than in the east. The Cuban pine forest plays an important role as a habitat filled with diversity from birds and plants.
Location
Cuban pine forests are located on the western and eastern sides of Cuba along with on the Isla de la Juventud. On the eastern side of Cuba, these forests are located at Pinar del Rio surrounding the Sierra de los Organos, particularly in the northern and southern plains. Also, there are small parts of the forest around the Sierra del Cristal, Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa Mountains, and in the Sierra Maestra. The Isla de la Juventud which translates to Isle of Youth is primarily Cuban pine forests on the islands northern half. The island had several names but was at one point known as the Isla de Pinos because of the abundance of pine forests until in 1978 when it was renamed Isla de la Juventud.
General Description
Annual average precipitation in the Cuban pine forests in the west is less than 1500 millimeters per year. There is a dry season from November to April and a wet season from May to October. The average annual temperature is 25 ̊ Celsius or 77 ̊ Fahrenheit. August is the warmest month with an average temperature of 28 ̊ C, and January is the coldest month with an average of 21.5 ̊ C. On the other hand, the eastern Cuban pine forests have higher levels of precipitation but lower average temperatures.
Plant Diversity
Deciduous forests, forests that shed their leaves annually, are made up primarily by coniferous trees and dense xerophytic trees from families such as rubiaceae, euforbiaceae, mirtaceae and melastomataceae. On the east side, particularly on the plateau of Cajalbana, Arenas Blancas, and Isla de la Juventud the predominant trees are pino macho (Pinus Caribaea) and pino hembra (Pinus tropicalis).
The pine forests of Pinar del Rio in the west represent one of the three most distinctive centers of plant diversity and endemism in Cuba. The flora of the Cajalbana plateau and Preluda Mountains contain nearly 330 species of angiosperms, three species of gymnosperms and about 20 species of ferns and close relatives (WWF 2014).
Biodiversity Features
You can find a high diversity of insects, arthropods, amphibians, and reptiles in the Cuban pine forest. However, birds have some of the highest levels of diversity in the ecosystem. Some of the diverse and endemic birds are as follows: the olive-capped warbler (Dendroica pityophila), the ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), the Cuban trogon (Priotelus temnurus), the rose-throated parrot (Amazona leucocephala leucocephala), and the Cuban tody (Todus multicolor) are endemic to the Cuban pine forests (WWF 2014). Among mammals, almiqui or solenodonte (Solenodon cubanus) is the most common in the northeastern region of the island. The almiqui are in critically endangered status and are unique because they are one of very few venomous mammals. Another mammal is hutia or “jutia”. They are common in the wet forests of the island.
Current Status
About 70% of the original habitat has been lost, but there are three or more blocks of intact habitat larger than 250. The rate of conversion from original to disturbed habitat is low at about 0.5% lost each year. More than 100of intact habitat have some degree of protection (WWF 2014).
Threats
The most serious threat is fire, which can spread rapidly through the xeromorphic and resiniferous vegetation. Agriculture is increasing around the perimeter of the area. Timber exploitation and, to some extent, tourism could increase soil erosion and open up areas to invasion by exotic plant species (Leiva). The ecoregion is also seriously threatened by mining, citrus fruit plantations, grazing and other forestry operations. Species and the vegetative structure of the ecoregion are also threatened due to the exploitation of various plants and populations of land snails, and to some extent by tourism. In the western sections, there is also a severe exploitation of endangered parrot populations (WWF 2014).
Conservation
The region is traditionally managed as “Forestry Patrimony”. The southern side of Cajálbana Tableland is included in the Mil Cumbres Integrated Management Area (of area 166 km²) (IUCN Management Catagory: VIII). (Leiva)
Works Cited
Leiva, Angela, Drs., and Rosalina Berazain, Drs. “CAJALBANA TABLELAND AND PRELUDA MOUNTAIN REGIONCuba (Caribbean).” CPD: Caribbean Islands, Site CB3, Cajálbana Tableland and Preluda Mountain Region, Cuba. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2015.
WWF. “Caribbean Islands: Cuba.” WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 27 May 2015.
Cuban Pines 