Between 1815 and 1926, Cuban landscapes went through great transformations as a result of the sugar industry.s expansion into its natural regions. The most visible result was a rapid deforestation giving way to the needs for fertile and combustible lands and wood for construction. This paper offers a general view of this process, which is characterized by the coincidence of two decisive factors: the concession to private individuals of the absolute right to fell trees within their properties and the introduction of technological progress from the industrial revolution era in sugar production.
Cuba's sugar agroindustry; Cuban landscapes; Cuban history