Europisch-Karibischen Gesellschaft e.

V Association

Morrocoy National Park Report

Author: MSc. Maria Beatriz Rosell December, 2011

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INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................3 1 BRIEF CHARACTERIZATION OF MORROCOY .......... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 1.1 CLIMATE ................................................................................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 1.2 GEOPHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ................................................................................................ 1.3 ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY ............................................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 2

ECONOMY OF FALCN STATE: DIVERSIFIED BUT UNSUSTAINABLY PLANNEDERROR! BOOKMARK N 2.1 SUMMARY ABOUT FALCNS ECONOMY ................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 2.2 MORROCOY AND ITS INFLUENCE IN FALCNS ECONOMY .......... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 2.2.1 Tourism .......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2.2 Artisanal fishery ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3 CAYS IN MORROCOY NATIONAL PARK ..................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES .......................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 3.1 DESTRUCTION OF MARINE ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY ....... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 3.1.1 Highlighting deforestation as part of biodiversity loss .... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2 POLLUTION BY HEAVY METALS, AND HYDROCARBON................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 3.2.1 Presence of heavy metals ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.2 Hydrocarbons ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.3 W ASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE PARK ......................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 3.3.1 Solid Waste .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.3.2 Effluents ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4 UNSUSTAINABLE TOURISM ...................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 3.5 OTHER NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS ........ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 3.5.1 The submergence of Peln Cay .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.5.2 Public Health .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.5.3 Environmental education and civic participation ............ Error! Bookmark not defined.

PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES IN MORROCOY ........... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 4.1 ACTIVITIES IN MORROCOY- THE PAST AND PRESENT ............... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 4.2 LIMITATIONS AND BARRIERS OF THE PARKS ADMINISTRATION ... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 4.2.1 Zoning of Morrocoy National according to use .............. Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.3 THE FUTURE ACTIVITIES IN MORROCOY................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 4.3.1 Strategic Tourism Plan 2011-2020 ................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

STAKEHOLDERS LINKED TO MORROCOY ............... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

5.1 FUDENA AND OTHER NGOS/ FOUNDATIONS ......................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 5.2 PUBLIC SECTOR/ RESEARCH CENTRES ................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 5.2.1 Public Institutions ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.2.2 Research Centres/ Universities ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3 PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT.............................................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 5.4 THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF EKG IN MORROCOY NATIONAL PARK ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 5.5 SUMMARY OF THE CURRENT CONTACTS INVOLVED IN WITH MORROCOY MANAGEMENTERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFI CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. REFERENCES ....................................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. ANNEXES .............................................................................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

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Introduction
In the recent past, the management of national parks in Venezuela has been characterized by the lack of monitoring and control of protected areas, outdated legislation and unrealistic sanctions for those who breach the law. Besides, other factors such as scarce information available combined with the disinterest of citizens have led to environmental problems such as high level of soil, water and air pollution. Venezuela is one of the top 10 most biodiverse countries in the world (The Nature Conservancy, 2007), its protected areas represent 15% of the national territory, and the marine protected areas represent 4.3% (TNC, 2007). Lately some stakeholders such as research institutions, universities, public institutions and foundations in pro of conservation have actively recognized the necessity to modify the management of national parks. Nevertheless, the importance of institutional capacity building and cooperation between different types of organizations is essential to gather efforts in order to pursue a better state of environment in locations such as Morrocoy National Park. This protected area has presented severe environmental negative impacts resulting, for instance, in the depletion of the marine ecosystems health. Amongst the environmental aspects existing in Morrocoy there is the lack of sewage systems, pesticide discharges, increment of the sedimentation rate, unsustainable tourism practices (Ministry of the Popular Power for the Environment, 2011).

This report aims to compile and proportionate relevant and the most updated information available concerning the current factors influencing the

environmental conditions in the Morrocoy National Park, as well as to enhance international cooperation of institutions such as Europisch- Karibische Gesellschaft e.V. EKG association, national and local organizations related to the management of this protected area. In this sense, this is the initial step to create a functioning network between the previously named stakeholders; public, private and independent organizations involved in the national parks management to collaborate and pursue sustainability in Morrocoy.