This PBS NATURE documentary explores Cuba's “wild refuge” of pristine wetlands, unspoiled coastlines, and virgin forests—a positive consequence derived from the country's lack of development and its isolation from much of the world after the Communist revolution in 1959—focusing on the contemporary rush to catalog and protect these natural resources before economic pressures in the post-Castro era overwhelm the fragile ecosystem. Voiceover narration accompanies stunning footage of natural wonders unique to the island, including some of the world's smallest bats, a hummingbird weighing less than a penny, sea turtles that migrate to lay their eggs on quiet beaches, exquisite “painted” snails, and rare crocodiles capable of leaping from the water to grab prey from low-hanging tree branches. Interviews with scientists and naturalists make it clear that being a conservationist in Cuba isn't easy, given the meager salaries, mountainous bureaucracy and paperwork, and a government still obsessed with security concerns and always wary of outsiders. But Cuba's location—in a critical area between the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic—makes it a magnet for many researchers, including those who study the country's vibrant coral reefs, pondering lessons that might be applicable to restoration efforts in other parts of the world. Although some of the interview subjects express concern for the future—as inevitable changes loom, one optimistic possibility emerges in the form of “green” tourism that would respect Cuba's copious biodiversity. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)
Cuba: The Accidental Eden
(2010) 60 min. DVD: $19.99, Blu-ray: $24.99 ($44.95 w/PPR). </span>PBS Video (tel: 800-344-3337, web: <a href="http://www.pbs.org/">www.pbs.org</a>). <span lang=NL style='mso-ansi-language:NL'>ISBN: 978-1-60883-316-0 (dvd). February 28, 2011
Cuba: The Accidental Eden
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