Mr. President:
Cuba reaffirms its commitment to the effective implementation of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 and to the fulfillment of the Global Forests Goals, in close coordination with the 2030 Agenda, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement.
Our country recognizes the essential role of forests in mitigating and adapting to climate change, conserving biodiversity, and protecting soil and water resources.
Our country continues to make steady progress in forestry. Currently, Cuba’s forested area covers more than 31% of the national territory, the result of decades of public policies focused on reforestation, ecosystem restoration, and the sustainable management of forest resources.
Cuba’s Third Nationally Determined Contribution reaffirms the priority given to the protection and expansion of forests as a fundamental tool for increasing carbon sequestration, strengthening climate resilience, and reducing land degradation.
In this context, we continue to promote programs for mangrove restoration, the rehabilitation of degraded areas, and the conservation of vulnerable ecosystems, including coastal zones that are particularly exposed to sea-level rise and extreme weather events.
However, these efforts face extraordinary obstacles stemming from the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba, which has been further intensified by the recent energy blockade against the country.
These unilateral coercive measures severely limit access to financing, technologies, fuels, equipment, and supplies that are essential for sustainable forest management, environmental monitoring, forest fire prevention, and the implementation of climate adaptation projects.
It is inconsistent to call for greater environmental efforts from developing countries while implementing measures of this kind that deliberately restrict their national capacity to advance toward sustainable development.
Cuba reiterates the need to strengthen international cooperation, access to means of implementation, and financing for countries of the South, in accordance with the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities.
Thank you very much.