Cuba

Mil Cumbres school children sing an environmental song

Collaboration between WCS’s Education Division and International Programs led to the conservation education program in Cuba. The Havana Zoo and Louisville Zoo are WCS’ partners in the program.

Between April, 2002 and November, 2003, the collaborators conducted three environmental education workshops attended by 72 professionals. These participants represent protected areas, schools, communities, zoos, and other informal science institutions in ten of Cuba’s 14 provinces. Twenty-one of the nation’s 22 zoos participated. Bronx Zoo curricular materials, which were made available in Spanish editions, had been adapted to focus specifically on Cuban wildlife and habitat (e.g. Cuban crocodiles; flamingos; the environmentally rich Zapata Swamp, Cuba’s largest wetland.). The first workshop featured a study trip to the Zapata Swamp and the national Crocodile Breeding Center located there. Highlights of the second workshop included a crocodile festival and a visit to the community of Mil Cumbres, where participants saw a graduate of the first workshop successfully delivering environmental education programs to students. The third workshop emphasized the connection between environmental and social issues.

Scientists lead workshop participants through the Zapata Swamp Crocodile Breeding Center

Cuba is home to an array of important ecosystems and a wealth of biological diversity. WCS, as well as working on scientific projects and training activities with local conservationists, has included Cuba’s educators as part of the conservation process.

AREAS OF PROJECT ACTIVITY: National representation of schoolteachers and environmental educators.

Workshops took place in Havana and Santa Clara.

CURRENT COLLABORATORS: Havana Zoo, Louisville Zoo

YEAR INITIATED: 2001

TARGET AUDIENCE: Cuban schoolteachers, environmental educators from zoos and communities across Cuba