The development of the infrastructure for the cultivation of postures is defined as a strength in the province of Ciego de Ávila, for the increase in forest cover and the recovery of affected areas during the current critical season of forest fires.

Disney Acosta Ramírez, a specialist from the Department of Forestry-Flora and Wildlife, of the Provincial Delegation of Agriculture, specified that the Agroforestry Company, responsible for 70 percent of the plantations, is working on the preparation of seven nurseries with tube technology in the municipalities from Florencia, Chambas, Morón, Bolivia, Ciro Redondo, Primero de Enero and Baraguá.

They represent a guarantee for the planting of 537 hectares (ha) of forests during the current year, mainly with species such as eucalyptus and casuarina, destined to satisfy demands for timber resources, although they will establish other varieties, such as mahogany, cedar and baria.

Wimir López Rosa, a specialist from the department, alleged that they planned an annual production of more than 960,500 seedlings that will also allow the recovery of more than 200 ha of forests affected by burning.

He stressed that by having financing and joining international collaboration projects, agroforestry companies acquire technologies that favor their work.

In this way, he added, better conditions are created to increase the forest area up to 24 percent, a figure that corresponds to the characteristics of the territory of Ciego de Ávila, where agriculture constitutes one of the fundamental economic activities; therefore, the largest fund of land is used for growing food.

In 2002 -he held- the forest areas grew by more than 200 ha, in relation to the previous stage, which expresses the will to advance in the reforestation program, to which other entities and land usufructuaries are integrated.

Yamilé Jiménez Peña, director of the Center for Environmental Engineering and Biodiversity, highlighted that the international Coastal Resilience project provided Chambas with a forest nursery, with more than 100,000 tubes, which will expand production for plantations in the heights of Punta Alegre, with the objective to preserve soils, stimulate rainfall and safeguard the coastal ecosystem.

This March 21, the territory joins the celebrations for World Forest Day, with the aim of emphasizing the contributions of these ecosystems to human health by improving air quality, purifying water, preserving biodiversity, providing well-being and resources used in traditional natural medicine.