Resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems in Cuba

This pilot project aims to strengthen the resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems in Cuba in the face of climate change, while reconciling sustainable tourism development with biodiversity conservation. It concerns two contrasting sites:

• The Guanahacabibes Peninsula (Pinar del Río province), classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which is sparsely urbanized, rich in reefs and mangroves, and home to a national park covering nearly 40,000 ha;
• Playa Santa Lucía (Camagüey province), a popular tourist destination with beaches, seagrass beds, coral reefs, and hotel infrastructure.

The project is led by the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA), with support from the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM). It involves several Cuban organizations, including the Environment Agency (AMA) and the ECOVIDA and CIMAC research centers.

BRL Ingénierie is conducting the feasibility study in collaboration with Cuban partners and the French Development Agency (AFD), according to three structured phases:

Phase 1: Scope of the mission

• Definition of the scope of the study and documentary analysis;
• Scoping meetings with the AFD and CITMA;
• Pre-drafting of the Project Expression Note (PEN) and initial responses to questions from the FFEM's Scientific and Technical Committee (CST).

Phase 2: Field missions and consultation

• Organization of meetings with institutions, municipalities, and local operators;
• Visits to both sites (Santa Lucía and Guanahacabibes);
• Adjustment of project activities based on realities observed in the field.

Phase 3: Project setup

• Final drafting of the logical framework, schedule, budget, and PEP;
• Organization of co-financing and finalization of institutional and contractual arrangements;
• Final validation meeting with the STC.