There are many aspects of Cuban history that have significantly changed its landscape. From the time of the Taino (and other) Indians to the landing of the Spaniards and Columbus, to the current Contemporary Caribbean landscape. All the changes to this landscape have been the direct result of cultural attitudes towards features on the landscape that were either valued as social or economic importance. For example, the Taino Indians cleared significant areas of the island's forests in slash and burn agriculture to grow maize and cassava, an important staple for survival. However, it was the arrival of the Europeans and Spaniards that reduced the vast expanses of pine and deciduous forests of the island. With these new cultures came new attitudes such as that of Columbus. A quote from his written Navigation Diary summarizes this attitude well.
"...he was not able to see anything because of the large woods, that were very fresh and full of fragrance... Then the young shipmen gave voices saying that they saw pines, I looked to the Sierra and saw them so large and marvelous that I could not estimate their height and straight shapes. The we realized we could build ships and an infinite number of decks and sheatings, and masts for the largest ships of Spain. I saw oaks, madronos and a fine river, and riggings to make water powered saws... There we found a lateen rig and a section fot the mizzenmast for the caravel La Nina..." (Rodriguez, 1999)
Because of the importance of cultural attitudes towards landscape, land cover, and land use change over time, this page not only contains references for pure environmental science, but social history as well, to illustrate the connections and complex linkages between the land, and the people who have changed it over the centuries.
