Social and ecological impact of subsistence use on jutia populations in protected areas.

Abstract

To carry out this work, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park was chosen as a case of study. It is located in the northeastern part of Guantánamo and Holguín respectively. The objective is aimed at assessing the role of subsistence use by the local human communities and the way in which the social component affects the ecological aspects of their populations concerning habitats, space distribution, conservation policy and health status. There has been applied the method of capturing and releasing animals, the sacrifice of some individuals for laboratory tests, and the searching of direct and indirect evidences on the field. The results show an index of affectation to the refuges by the act of poaching up to 24.8%, as well as five uses applied on the caprómidos by the local communities on the area of study.