Distortion of history to aid control by a central government is a thousands-of-years-old technique. Since at least the times of Pharaoh Ramses II, rulers have successfully altered the historical record. In more recent times, George Orwell (1949) wrote: And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed—if all records told the same tale—then […]
The Riverine Gallery Forests: The Chill Abode of the Jigüe
In Cuba’s history, ecology, and economics, interaction of water with vegetation is important and complex, e.g., “A la cintura cruzamos el río y recruzamos por él—bayás altos a la orilla…” (José Martí in Diario de Campaña de Cabo Haitiano a Dos Ríos, entry of April 14, 1895, cited in Anonymous, 2004); and “Combate en el […]
Land Management: Modeling Deforestation and Desertification in Oriente Province, Cuba
This paper presents a preliminary “thought” model of the putative causes of ecological change and desertification of Cuba’s eastern provinces (Las Tunas, Granma, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo), once known collectively as Oriente Province. In particular, the paper refers to a very large part of eastern Cuba, in Oriente Province, comprised mainly of the […]
Recruitment of Scientists and Development of International Funding Resources in Post Castro Cuba
The objective here to solicit input, gather information, identify sources of funding and ideas to support science and scientists in a post-Castro Cuba. IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL SOURCES OF FUNDING This is the most straight-forward of all these matters. And it boils down to a shopping list of public and private funding sources (see Box 1). […]
Restoration of Cuban Gallery Forests, Especially on the Banks of the Bayamo and Other Rivers of the Cauto Basin
Cuba was once a land of complex forests, and these forests were a foundation of much prosperity. Not only were precious woods logged for export, but natural products, such as dye-woods, were sold as well. For example, some of the natural medicines listed in Parke, Davis & Co. manuals (1890) surely came from Cuba. However, […]