Human settlements, contamination, rampant tourism
INPARQUES currently has a Comprehensive Development Plan (scale 1:25,000) for El Portillo. This plan includes urban remodeling of the town, a beach walkway, a service center, restrooms, the construction of a wastewater treatment plant and a sewer and waterway system. Part of the proposed solution entails including settlers into park tourism development and conservation activities. Three billion bolívares (~$1,700,000 US) were supposedly assigned to this project in 1999. However, work has not begun because funds were used for assistance during the Vargas mudslide tragedy in December of that year.
If this plan is to provide solutions to the actual problems caused by the town and flood of tourists, the plan must include restrictions on growth of the communities in the park and must curb the potential problems that increased tourism will bring to the area.
Land ownership
As part of a 1998 Park Consolidation Project financed by World Bank, information was compiled on all property ownership and activities carried out on these lands inside the park. Lack of funds has not yet allowed INPARQUES to purchase in holdings in the Park, and this probably will not change in the near future due to the country's current economic crisis. Fortunately, INPARQUES plays an important role in the Nueva Esparta Land Ordinance Committee. Land in the La Restinga is protected because there are no conflicts of interest with the local government's urbanization and development programs. While solutions are being developed, INPARQUES' position in the Committee must be maintained to avoid illegal human settlements in the near future.
Lack of funds
The lack of funds La Restinga and other parks are currently experiencing affects equipment availability, number of employees and the motivation of employees to work. This in turn causes decreased surveillance of La Restinga and an increase in poaching. Budget problems in the area have a long history mainly caused by INPARQUES' political weakness and a lack of environmental interest on behalf of the government. In 2002, INPARQUES accepted an ever-dwindling budget from the government, as they do every year. Imminent actions toward a strike may be the only way to solve this spiral of continually lessening funds. As long as the superintendent and park guards keep paying for park maintenance out of their own pockets, the government will continue to believe that parks can function with continually reduced budgets. Demonstrating that parks cannot function within the current budget may be the only way that INPARQUES can obtain funds that match its importance as an institution.
Poaching and illegal fishing
The most successful project against wildlife poaching and illegal commerce was a yellow-shouldered amazon project, which was carried out in the 1990's by PROVITA. A variety of educational campaigns were able to convert seasoned poachers into conservation allies. These campaigns were aimed at both children and adults. They included folkloric and recreational activities. Several small businesses were formed due to this campaign. They used the yellow-shouldered amazon as a representative emblem. This project idea should be used with other endangered species. However, recent socioeconomic changes in towns surrounding the park must be taken into account to ensure future program success.
Exotic species introduction
While a great number of studies regarding the native flora and fauna of the lagoon and its surroundings already exist, studies on the control and eradication of invasive species are needed. The Ministry of Science and Technology has a National Parks Fund for this purpose, though park superintendents must voice their needs to receive the funding.
Future threats
Sand bar reduction
Solutions to minimize sand bar reduction are neither trivial nor easy to implement in the short term. Some of the factors causing this problem are global in origin while others are on a local scale. Among the latter are the construction of jetties and breakwaters, which have reduced sediment discharge and require thorough study to reverse this effect. It would be best to take into account the experiences of other countries where these problems have been solved successfully.
