Wetlands cover nearly one tenth of Cuba

Wetlands cover nearly one tenth of Cuba
English.news.cn 2014-08-26 11:36:24

HAVANA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Wetlands, including inland and coastal
swampland, occupied 10,410 square km of land area, or 9.3 percent of
Cuba, the Cuban News Agency (ACN) reported Monday.

ACN quoted the Cuban Environmental Agency as saying these highly fragile
and vulnerable ecosystems play a beneficial role, mainly by protecting
habitats and preventing coastal erosion.

They also serve to absorb the carbon dioxide in the air, clean
tributaries, minimize the impact and potential economic losses of severe
weather events, such as hurricanes, and help maintain the underground
water supply, the agency said.

Cuba's Zapata Swamp (Cienaga de Zapata), in southern part of the western
province of Matanzas, is the Caribbean regions' largest wetland, and is
included on the list of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of
International Importance as Waterfowl Habitat.

The national park, which covers an area of some 4,500 square kilometers,
is home to more than 165 migratory and native bird species.

Source: Wetlands cover nearly one tenth of Cuba - Xinhua |
English.news.cn -
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-08/26/c_133584759.htm