Landslide processes as a natural disturbance in ecosystems in the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Cuba

Abstract

The present work addressed the occurrence of landslide processes as a disturbing element for some ecosystems in the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park in the northeastern part of the Republic of Cuba. A landslide inventory was carried out with Sentinel images as the main source of information. Factors such as geology, relief and soil were also considered as conditioning elements for the occurrence of landslides. The vegetation was classified according to O.J Reyes 2012 and the inventory of vertebrate species in Cuba was used, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A total of 206 landslides in the park were inventoried. The areas with the highest density of landslides developed mainly in a very abrupt relief, where sedimentary rocks and brown soils predominate; These areas coincide with those of low altitude rainforest development and where the largest number of vertebrate species is found.