Historical Background of Cuban Land Cover Change

Chapter one introduces the concepts of landscape change, what defines a landscape, and how Cuba’s land use practices have changed over time. Here the definition of land use is distinguished from land cover. The shifting perception regarding the island’s natural resources is also described in terms of the various perspectives spanning from those of the first Indians to those of the early Spaniards. The question of what those varying perspectives meant in terms of exploitation versus conservation is also briefly explored. Finally, the chapter concludes with a look at how the landscape has changed, in map format, from the time of Columbus to present day.