The study carried out in Los Pozuelos Mountain reveals an “endemism” where there may be new species of animals and cocoa
The Jabiru Civil Association (Asojabiru) and the NGO Vitalis presented a study to the scientific community and environmental institutions in which an inventory of biodiversity was recorded in the Los Pozuelos Mountain, between the states of Portuguesa and Lara, with which they hope that the creation of a national park in that area to protect the fauna and flora of the place.
This research is part of the project called Support for the protection of natural areas in Venezuela through participatory assessment of biodiversity and capacity building, with which the preservation of biodiversity is sought in the face of its loss in the world due to climate change.
Carlos Díaz, engineer and president of Asojabiru, gave details about the physical aspects of Montaña Los Pozuelos, a 2,500-hectare area located on the northeast flank of the Cordillera de Mérida that is home to various forest formations ranging from dry forest to cloud forest, as well as the sources of the rivers El Morador, Las Marías and Quebrada Las Nutrias.
He stressed that with the implementation of the project, the idea of creating the national park and thus conserving biodiversity can be supported, explaining that the community of Guanare and the experts from the Ezequiel Zamora National Experimental University of the Western Plains (Unellez ) has been important in the work being carried out.
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For his part, the executive director of Vitalis, Eduardo Ochoa, believes that it is essential that the levels of biodiversity in Venezuela be maintained, adding that it is a “treasure” which must be preserved. This, in his opinion, can be achieved with the collaboration of various sectors such as universities, civil society, scientific associations, among others.
The study found evidence of ‘endemism’ (a geographic range smaller than a continent and found naturally nowhere else in the world) and the potential to record new species of fish, macroinvertebrates, birds and mammals from which were not known in the area.
A species of cocoa was also found in the wild, baptized as Candelaria cocoawhich is currently under study and could be considered for a designation of origin.
The UK Chargé d’Affaires in Venezuela, Rebecca Buckingham, stressed that these types of projects are important to protect nature from climatic shocks. She said that for her country – which sponsors this project – there is a priority to make the fight against climate change her international priority.
Press Release_A Contribution to the Conservation and Protection of the Biodiversity of Montaña Los Pozuelos by As it is on Scribd
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