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Everywhere in the landscape of
Pinar del Rio, palm trees tower all vegetation welcoming every
one and giving shade on the hot sunny days. Standing
majestically, they are the deity well revered by the local
people practicing animalism. However, out of 100 species, 14 are
in danger of extinction. Alone in the province of Pinar, the
Colpothrinax wrightii, Copernicia brittonorum, Copernicia
fallensis, coccothrinax crinita are endangered species. With the
difficult economic situations, the inhabitants were forced cut
the wood to use as fuel. Every part of the palm tree is used;
the fruit is used as animal feed, the palm leaves thatched to
become roofs to ‘bohios’ or houses and their trunks the frames
of these habitation. An overexploitation of the forest resources
led to an ecological imbalance. Their habitat being destroyed,
some species came on the verge of extinction, as it was
difficult for them to regenerate. A plan was essential to
redress the ecological balance. Educational campaigns,
propagation of the plants as well as reintroduction of the
endangered flora were launched. The goal is now to replenish the
forest where lived more endemic plants and creatures than today. |
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