Cuba’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment reports that it made intense efforts throughout 2015 to preserve Varadero’s beaches through the replacement of invasive plants with native species, which aid in the prevention of dune erosion.
The work to restore vegetation to the coastal area is reportedly the most comprehensive undertaken in recent years in the island’s Hicacos Peninsula.
The process entailed the removal of casuarinas and other species alien to Cuba, which were then replaced by plants such as cove grapes in order to preserve the native landscape.
Other measures included transporting sand to improve the most eroded areas, monitoring the water quality, and checking the geomorphological state of the beach of the north and south peninsula.
While the 2015 hurricane season proved uneventful for Varadero, the area did suffer damage to its white sand beaches as a result of strong winds from the north.
According to the government, several buildings were demolished due to their “harmful nature” to the dunes, and there are plans in the coming year to place signage specifically aimed at sensitizing beach-goers with care for the environment.
