[San Esteban (deforested); San Esteban (burned)] Mountainous area located in the park, to the west of San Esteban Valley. It was burned and cut in order to establish farmland. Photos: ASOVESAN.
One year after ParksWatch-Venezuela issued our report on the state of conservation in San Esteban National Park, the Association of Neighbors of the Town of San Esteban (AVOVESAN) has expressed its concern over the environmental problems in this National Park.
San Esteban National Park, located in the state of Carabobo in Venezuela\’s Cordillera de la Costa, was established in 1987 in order to protect different forest types and the headwaters of rivers that supply water to the region. The park\’s vegetation is very rich and varied, it includes vegetation types from mangroves to cloud forests.
San Esteban also protects several places that are part of Venezuela\’s cultural heritage, such as the Solano Fortress, the home of General Bartolomé Salom, the bridge called Ojival de Pozo Hondo, as well as petroglyphs such as Tronconero, Vigirima and la Piedra del Indio.
In April 2004, ParksWatch-Venezuela reported that San Esteban National Park was threatened by problems such as poaching, overexploitation of fishing resources, livestock, lack of vigilance and control, forest fires, and lack of clear landownership titles, among others. Now, one year later, the the Association of Neighbors of the Town of San Esteban (AVOVESAN) is expressing its concern about the Park\’s environmental problems.
According to ASOVESAN, one of the main threats to the park is the \”deforestaion and burning of areas within the National Park in order to incorporate these lands into the traditional \”conuco\” agricultural system. These areas include both virgin forested zones and areas that have felt some intervention in the past but that are in recovery.\” Other threats include illegal extraction of \”forestry species used in construction in the park\’s neighboring towns and illegal hunting. In Puerto Cabello, there are even restaurants that offer paca (Agouti paca) and other wildlife species.\”
ASOVESAN also describes the consequences of unregulated tourism in the zone: \”Just meters from the Park Guard Station, there is a dyke that feeds the aqueduct that supplies water to Puerto Cabello and San Esteban. However, many people use these pools close to the dyke for amusement, transforming the zone into a popular bathing site, which brings with it the subsequent water contamination due to solid waste.
Since they benefit from the protected resources within the national parks, the communities living around parks and the visitors to them should participate and cooperate with the National Parks Institute (INPARQUES) (1) to protect and conserve them.
For more information, consult San Esteban National Park Profile, completed in 2004, ParksWatch-Venezuela.
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1 The National Parks Institute is the official agency responsible for managing national parks and natural monuments in Venezuela.
ParksWatch-Venezuela: June 2005
Translated by: Amanda Zidek-Vanega