Alejandro de Humboldt National Park

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Alejandro de Humboldt National Park: A Biodiversity Haven in Cuba

The Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, located in the Cuban provinces of Holguín and Guantánamo, stands as a testament to the rich biodiversity found within the Caribbean region. Named after the renowned German scientist Alexander von Humboldt, who visited the island in 1800 and 1801, this national park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 due to its significant size, altitude range, complex geology, diverse topography, and abundance of endemic flora and fauna.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Complex geology and varied topography have given rise to a diversity of ecosystems and species unmatched in the insular Caribbean and created one of the most biologically diverse tropical island sites on earth. Many of the underlying rocks are toxic to plants so species have had to adapt to survive in these hostile conditions. This unique process of evolution has resulted in the development of many new species and the park is one of the most important sites in the Western Hemisphere for the conservation of endemic flora. Endemism of vertebrates and invertebrates is also very high.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

Criterion (ix): The scientifically assumed history as a Pleistocene Refuge, as well as the size, altitudinal range and complexity and diversity of land forms and soil types of Alejandro de Humboldt National Park have resulted in ongoing processes of local speciation and development of ecological communities both on land and in the freshwater, which are unmatched in the Insular Caribbean and indeed of global significance. The toxic serpentines and peridotites in the rocks and soils of the region poses very particular challenges to plants and plays an important role in the evolution of the outstanding ecological features of the property, including the high degree of endemism.

Criterion (x): Alejandro de Humboldt National Park harbours some of the most significant natural habitats for the conservation of terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity in Cuba and is of global importance as one of the most biologically diverse tropical ecosystems in an island setting anywhere on Earth. The property contains 16 out of 28 plant formations defined on the island of Cuba, considered a distinct and unique biogeographic province. There is a consensus that many species remain to be discovered in the property. The high degree of endemism across numerous taxonomic groups both on land and in freshwater is of particular importance, reaching almost three quarters of all known species in the case of the extremely diverse flora with many being local endemics. Endemism rates for vertebrates and invertebrates found in the park are also very high. Countless species are severely restricted in their range, which adds to the importance of the property. The ongoing evolutionary processes in a largely intact and conserved setting provide extraordinary insights for scientists and conservation practitioners.

Encyclopedia Record: Alejandro de Humboldt National Park

Alejandro de Humboldt National Park is a national park in the Cuban provinces of Holguín and Guantánamo. It is named after the German scientist Alexander von Humboldt who visited the island in 1800 and 1801. The park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 for its size, altitude range, complex lithology, landform diversity, and wealth of endemic flora and fauna.

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IUCN World Heritage Outlook

The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Alejandro de Humboldt National Park reports the following assessment:

Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment