Las Tunas, Cuba.- The increase in coastal flooding due to the influence of hydro meteorological events; the rise in annual average temperature; the increase of saline intrusion, with the consequent degradation of soils; as well as the intensification of the drought are parameters that show that this province is one of those that suffer the most the impact of the irreversible phenomenon.

It is not a case of cruelty from the nature, or that the environment is protected here less than in the rest of Cuba; but, historically, it has been the region with the lowest average of annual rainfall and sometime it was the most deforested. Today it is among the nine with the lowest forest cover, with the achievement of having reached 19.14 percent, almost the double that it had in 1984 of 11.3 percent.

Reynol Pérez Fernández, main specialist of the Environment Group of the Provincial Delegation of Citma said that "in this sense we see a continuous, but not accelerated, growth in forest cover." He points out that "the varietal policy is still insufficient, because the species that are easiest to reproduce are multiplied and not the best economically or the most environmentally friendly."

The expert explains that the confrontation to the climatic change in the province focuses fundamentally on three problems: the saline intrusion, the drought and the deterioration of the soils. He stresses that "the increase of the temperatures and the decrease of the precipitations and of the relative humidity, will cause the reduction of water resources and a tendency to the aridity."

In this sense, Yusniel Núñez Acosta, senior specialist of the Scientific Group of the Provincial Meteorological Center, says that "we have important studies related to this topic, especially with meteorological variables." They confirm, for example, the increase in the average temperature near 0.8 to 0.9 degrees and the trend is to continue rising". He emphasizes on the direct impact that this has on the life of the inhabitants of Las Tunas and, fundamentally, on the production of food.

"The amount of heat that a plant receives throughout its life cycle is a determining factor in the final production of crops." He remarked that the impact of the extreme drought is felt in the same way to the north as to the south of the territory; and he also highlighted that the beans and corn production are already having notable effects as a result of these ballasts.

Pérez Fernandez notes that "an analysis of the production has been made related to what is obtained and what must be obtained." Las Tunas is well below the tons per hectare that, on average, is collected from each crop in the nation. For example, sweet potato, most regions can pick up about 17 tons in one hectare and Las Tunas only collect 6. In general, we are one or two tons below the national average in almost all areas."

With regard to the more than 400 homes that are now in high risk areas in the face of sea level rise, he pointed out that "in this context, territorial planning acquires great importance." He recalled that for this reason 90 state installations of the first coast line were removed in the province between 2017 and 2018; and said that now the process with the non-state sector will begin. Another measure that is implemented is the planting of mangrove forests, which will serve as barriers to the aggressiveness of the sea".

MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION

The people of Las Tunas are not standing idly by in the face of the impact of climate change. The main specialist of the Environment Group of Citma believes that the main strength we have today is obtaining a greater perception of the risk we face, on the part of the authorities, the business and institutional system and the population. This is evidenced by the 187 million 402, 200 pesos in both currencies that will be destined this year to important investments to mitigate the effects of the phenomenon.

Among the investments to be developed, those of Hydraulic Resources related to the activation of new sources of water supply to the communities most affected by the drought stand out. The installation of three desalination plants in the coastal towns of La Herradura, Puerto Carúpano, and Guayacán; the construction of interior pipelines for the Aqueduct of Puerto Padre and the continuation of the assembly of the water treatment plant of the Juan Sáez dam; as well as aqueduct networks in "Jesús Menéndez" and Delicias, are those of greatest impact.

The Agriculture sector, on the other hand, has the financing to set up 220 efficient irrigation systems and three electric central pivot irrigation machines that will cover an area of 80.52 hectares in the Vázquez productive pole, municipality of Puerto Padre. Likewise, 2, 800 hectares of sugarcane must be relocated, currently impacted by the saline intrusion and which in the future will be affected by the rise in sea level.

Other actions planned for the current calendar are the reforestation of 57 hectares of mangrove in Manatí and Puerto Padre Municipalities, the construction of two new photovoltaic parks in the latter location and the replacement of two kilometers of casuarinas in the dune of Covarrubias beach. In addition, work will continue on the wind farms in "Jesús Menéndez" and the road from Punta Corella to La Llanita beach.

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