Venezuela Information Sources
Location "Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana"   CIA Internet Factbook
National websites    Click Here (In Spanish)

Spanish Translator
Embassy / Chancery in U.S.  Embassy of Venezuela
 1099 30th St., N.W.,
 Washington D.C. 20007.
 USA		  Embassy of Venezuela Website
Agencies responsible for biological inventory and conservation  Ministerio del Ambiente y de los Recursos   Naturales Renovables  Agency website 
Major Natural Resources  According to the CIA Factbook, natural resources of Venezuela include natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds. However, the most plentiful is petroleum. In fact, oil accounts for 27% of the GDP. Other natural resources in terms of biological resources, include La Gran Sabana, or "great savanna, " holds many different species. Another natural resource is Park Henry Pittier, which contains the Gunnera Pittierana, which is endemic and over 600 species of birds. The wide variety of species in Venezuela is partly due to its location at the base of the Andes and the Amazon Rain Forest.   CIA Internet Factbook
Major Environmental and Conservation Issues  Venezuela’s location at the base of the Andes Mountains and Equator allows much Biological diversity. Unfortunately, this diversity comes into contact with human civilization. According to the CIA Factbook, problems occurring from the tension between nature and humans include sewage pollution of Valencia Lake, deforestation, and soil degradation. These problems are similar to ones faced in most Industrialized nations. However, the biggest environmental concern is with Venezuela’s dependence on oil, and all the problems that come with drilling, especially around Maricaibo Lake and the Caribbean coast. And in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis and a downturn in the economy, oil drilling dependence will should increase, forcing the government to find more efficient, environmentally friendly methods of oil extraction.  World Resources Institute Webpage
Statistics
Land area  912, 050 Sq. km  World Resources Institute Webpage
Area of forest  604, 051 Sq. km  World Resources Institute Webpage
Area of wetlands    
Area of territorial waters  30,000 Sq. km  CIA Internet Factbook
Population  22,803,409 (July 1998 est.)  CIA Internet Factbook
Population Density    
Area protected (ha) (only areas >1000ha) at all IUCN levels    
Fraction of land area protected (%)  30.2% overall protected by law  World Resources Institute Webpage
Major Protected Areas  26 National Parks and 11 National Monuments
 8 marine protected areas		  Click here for list and discriptions of National Parks and Monuments
Endemic Species
Mammals  16
Birds  42
Reptiles  57
Amphibians  116
Fish  N/A
Invertebrates  N/A
Plants  8000 (higher Plants)

 

 A partial list of endemic birds
Endangered and Threatened Species
Mammals  12 
Birds  22 
Reptiles  10 
Amphibians  0 
Fish  0 (freshwater) 
Invertebrates  N/A
Plants  107 

 

  Wildlife Venezuela
Extinct Species  0 animals, 0 on 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants  World Conservation Monitoring Centre -Animal 

World  Conservation Monitoring Centre - Plants
Species listed on CITES Appendix I  33  CITES Database
Species listed on CITES Appendix II  283  CITES Database
Legislation
Laws protecting endangered or threatened species  Penal Environmental Law (1992)- "Establishes penalties for acts that degrade the environment, based on the minimum wage, and jail sentences. Punishes public sector employees who grant permission for activities that damage the environment without an environmental impact assessment."

Law Protecting Wildlife (1970)-"Establishes wildlife reserves, wildlife refuges, and wildlife sanctuaries. Establishes norms for hunting, with the acquisition of the necessary permits"

  Natural Resources Dept. Website (in Spanish)
Spanish Translator

List of enviornmental laws
Laws protecting endangered ecosystems List of Laws protecting Forest areas  Natural Resources Dept. Website (in Spanish)

Spanish Translator
Signatory to CITES  Oct. 24, 1977  List of CITES parties
Signatory to Ramsar Wetlands Convention  November 23, 1988  Ramsar Treaty Parties
Signatory to Convention on Biological Diversity   ratified 1994  UN listing (In Spanish)
Signatory to Migratory Bird Treaty    
Member of International Whaling Commission yes  IWC webpage
Signatory to other international treaties designed to protect or manage biological resources List of all International Agreements Venezuela has signed (in Spanish)

Agreement on InternationaThe Foundation for the Defense of Nature- FUDENl Tropical Wood (1983)

  UN Economic and Social Development Website

Spanish Translator
Non-government Organizations (NGOs), or chapters of international organizations concerned with the preservation of natural resources  The Foundation for the Defense of Nature- FUDENA

Audubon Society of Venezuela, 
Apdo. 80450, Caracas 1080-A
tel 582/ 92-3268, fax 582/91-0716

 FUDENA Website:
http://www.fudena.org/

 
Natural Resource Use
Fisheries  24,553 metric tons of freshwater fish caught per year, up 10% in the last 10 years. 365,780 metric tons of fish caught per year, up 73% in past 10 years  
Forestry  Venezuela is extremely rich in Forest resources. Of the nearly 46 million hectares of forest in the country, about 8 million are currently suitable for exploitation.   Forest Concession Policy in Venezuela by Julio César Centeno
Ecotourism  Tours are offered to visit the different National Parks, and La Gran Sabana and Angel Falls.  Ecotours in Venezuela
Trade in wildlife products    
Hunting  Jaguar hunting still exists even though the government has banned it for over 22 years. Also, Venezuela has lobbied the Animals Committee of CITES to allow Jaguar hunting once again. Overall, hunting is allowed of certain instances with a government permit.  Environment and Latin America Network
Other uses of natural resources  Mining of Gold and other minerals has proven distructive for the environment. It is estimated that
10,000 km2 of forest in the High Caroni have been
destroyed as a result of mining, and over 1000 tons of
mercury, employed in the refining of gold-rich
sediment has been poured into the River Caroni over the last
decade.		  Environment and Latin America Network
Human Impacts on Natural Resources
Air pollution    
Water pollution    
Development activities  Click here for link about gold mining dispute

Click here for info about a "mega project to dam and divert" the River Caura to the River Paragua in Bolivar State near the border with Brazil.

 Trade Environment Database (TED)

Environment and Latin America Network
Introduced species    
Legislation addressing these issues  Rules for impact on renewable natural resources associated with exploration for and extraction of Minerals (Decree Nº
2.219); 		  Environment and Latin America Network

Natural Resources Dept. Website (in Spanish)
Restoration and Reintroduction Information Sources
Programs for restoration of damaged habitat  In 1936 Venezuela began a program of forest replantations in many different states that lasted until 1974. Out of that program grew another forest replantation program which has industrial aims has located in the
Anzoátegui state. The state, along with private companies have replanted over 450.000 ha of forest. Another similar program reforested 5,000 ha along the Tocuyo River.		  UN Global Sustainability Website
Programs for ex situ conservation (captive breeding and reintroduction) of endangered species    

Return to Endangered Species Protection around the World

Page compiled by Jun Tokeshi as part of a class project in h90 "The Science of Biodiversity and Conservation" (Peter J. Bryant, Instructor), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA