Manejo integrado para la restauración de la cuenca alta del arroyo Cupaynicú, Cuba (Original)

Abstract

The deterioration of watersheds due to human pressures constitutes a global challenge that requires holistic diagnoses and accomodated solutions. This study aimed to develop an integrated management action plan for the upper part of the Cupaynicú stream watershed, Guisa municipality, Cuba, with an emphasis on restoration and conservation. Through field reconnaissance, floristic sampling along transects, surveys, interviews, and the use of the Vester Matrix for causal analysis, the main environmental problems were diagnosed. The results identified 13 critical points of degradation, with soil erosion being the central problem classified as critical by the Vester Matrix, exacerbated by deforestation and illegal logging (active problems). The floristic inventory recorded 57 species, with 13% classified as invasive, confirming their establishment in previously degraded areas. Furthermore, a socio-environmental gap was observed, with 50% of the surveyed riverside residents showing a lack of engagement with conservation practices. Based on this diagnosis, a management plan is proposed, structured around two complementary axes: a technical-ecological axis (soil restoration, reforestation with native species, invasive species control, and fire prevention) and a socio-institutional axis (environmental education, community monitoring, and local governance). The strategy offers a replicable model for the sustainable management of watersheds with similar socio-environmental problems.