Guamuhaya National Geopark: Cuba advances sustainable management

Experts and officials are advancing the sustainable management of the Guamuhaya National Geopark in Cuba. During a recent workshop focused on integrated management, authorities discussed the protection of natural heritage, the promotion of sustainable tourism, and the involvement of local communities.

Enrique Castellanos Abella, Director of Geology at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, highlighted the area's unique geological importance. He noted that the massif is a key piece in the geological evolution of the Caribbean, reflecting the articulation between North and South America and the separation of Pangea. The region contains rare metamorphic rocks, such as eclogites, which originate from deep within the Earth's mantle and crust and are highly valued by geologists for dating rock ages.

Baudilio Naranjo, the geopark director, presented various geosites of high patrimonial value, including the Agua Caburní and Vegas Grandes waterfalls and the Julio César cave. The management strategy involves coordinating efforts across the provinces of Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara, and Cienfuegos to organize the handling of these protected areas.