RADIO HABANA CUBA Hello, and welcome to Breakthrough, our Science, Technology and the Environment update. I am Arnaldo - Arnie - Coro, RHC's Science Editor, and today I'll tell you about an upcoming scientific meeting to take place here in Havana that is related to the 53rd ordinary session of UN General Assembly declaring the year 2002 as International Year of the Mountains.
BREAKTHROUGH
Report on Science, Technology & the EnvironmentFor broadcast Sunday, May 19 & Thursday, May 23, 2002
Written and narrated by Arnaldo "Arnie" Coro, RHC's Science Editor
Subject to excessive rain, relatively low temperatures, aridity, high solar radiation and natural disasters like avalanches, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, mountains are fragile ecosystems whose soil suffers from accelerated erosion, landslides and rapid loss of its natural resources. And this is happening all over our planet, in some cases at an accelerated pace.
The United Nations has designated 2002 as International Year of the Mountains, but the theme goes far beyond this timeframe in terms of the need to implement sustainable ecosystems, which will outlast this and the next generation. Mountainous regions cover one-fifth of the planet's total area and it is from those landscapes that more than half of the world's population receive goods and services. Moreover, mountains offer direct life sustenance to almost one-tenth of the world's population.
Mountainous areas are the most sensitive to climate changes in the atmosphere. Thus, it is essential to make positive use of specific ecological information, the potential of their natural resources and socioeconomic activities.
The Latin America and Caribbean Regional Conference on Mountains is scheduled to take place here in Cuba from May 29 through 31, and will be dealing with this very vitally important topic.
The venue for that meeting is the mountainous community of Las Terrazas, an example of sustainable development that has brought the most favorable comments from visitors from around the world. Las Terrazas is located some 60 kilometers from the capital city of Havana, and provides an excellent environment for the meeting. In an interview with Granma International Newspaperby my colleague Raisa Pages, Fidel Ramos, secretary of the national commission of the Turquino-Manatí Plan, devoted to sustainable development for the mountainous regions of Cuba, noted that this event coincides with the 15th anniversary of that socioeconomic program, offering special advantages to the island's mountain communities.
Ramos pointed out that on the global level, the majority of mountainous areas are suffering from the abuse of environmental degradation. There are no simple recipes to save them. Every nation needs to promote sustainability for its mountains, involving specific processes and remedies in every region. In Cuba, more than 600 abundant freshwater rivers originate in mountain areas, which cover 18% of our national territory. Over 700,000 people live in 1,567 settlements in these mountainous regions. Generating 90% of the island's coffee production, 100% of its cacao, in addition to their wealth in timber, tropical fruit, root and fresh vegetables, Cuban mountains are natural refuges for fauna and rich reserves of biological diversity.
I am sure that those attending the upcoming conference at Las Terrazas will have a wonderful opportunity to share their experiences in making the mountains last longer and provide a better environment for those living in those areas.
From Havana, this was another edition of Breakthrough, Radio Havana Cuba's Ccience, Technology and the Environment update. I am Arnaldo - Arnie - Coro, RHC's Science Editor, together with sound engineer Jose Costa Pupo, now saying good bye and wishing you good short wave reception, amigos!
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