The satisfactory results in the exploitation of the potential of the Nim tree, an initiative that is being developed in the Baitiquirí Ecological Reserve, of the San Antonio del Sur municipality, distinguishes the Guantánamo province at national level in the work to protect the environment and of adaptation to climate change.
The experience of the cultivation and use of this plant in the territory contributes to face the aridity and increases the resilience of the so-called Cuban semi-desert area, highlighted the MSc. Soraya García Pavón, principal specialist of the Group of Technical Scientific and Project Services of the Application Center Technological for Sustainable Development, (CATEDES).
Sponsored by that scientific institution, the project is developed from which a Nim tree forest was planted in the community of Baitiquirí, first of its kind in the country, and a biofactory was created for the extraction of oil from seeds of the plant and other tasks to take advantage of the medicinal and pesticides properties.
The development of this local capacity-building plan not only has an environmental impact but also a social impact, by promoting employment and livelihood for residents of that settlement that are involved during each harvest to collect Nim seeds for bioinsecticide production.
MSc. Soraya García Pavón, specialist of CATEDES, said that this initiative will soon be funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) that will provide small donations to continue this scientific activity, of which Guantanamo is a national reference .