The authors present results about different ecological aspects of aquatic birds in anthropic and natural humid lands in Cuba, where at least 70 species of birds use rice plantations to feed and bordering humid lands to rest and to reproduce. It is registered for the first time in Cuba the diet of 34 species of birds, as well as the trophic resources that these extract from the rice plantation (47), the damages that they cause, the benefits and the role carried out as biological controllers, the habitat use during the rice cycle and the influence of morphometric adaptations on the niche development.

It was evaluated the energy that they mobilize from the cultivation toward natural humid lands, which allowed quantifying the exchange between the two ecosystems and the contribution of each cultivation’ cycle phase during the year. 10 species' reproductive parameters were studied, as well as the location and dynamics of reproductive colonies in natural humid lands. The structure of birds’ community is very similar between natural humid lands and rice plantations, which reflects that these have a crucial role in the conservation of aquatic birds in these ecosystems. It was developed an environmental education campaign that embraced 7 provinces and more than 30 000 people, mainly children.

The results are expressed in 3 doctoral theses, 2 master's degrees, 42 national and international publications, with 9 quotations in international prestigious publications; 124 reports in 66 events and national and international recognitions; the most outstanding are the Forum Environmental Leaders of the University of Columbia in the United States, Prizes Whitley Laing and Ruffort Grant for Birds' Conservation in the United Kingdom.