A total of 11 people have been identified due to the effects that occurred with mud pits in the vicinity of the Collado del Cóndor (Pico El Águila), located in the Sierra La Culata National Park.
The director of Inparques Mérida, Franklin Leal, highlighted that thanks to legal actions by Inparques, “hand in hand with Governor Jehyson Guzmán and the Ministry of Ecosocialism, an effective response has been given in this case. 11 people have been identified, who are locals of the axis of the Andean páramo and the arrest of three more people.
Leal stressed that when an environmental crime occurs, as is the case, two procedures are carried out. An administrative penalty, which is delivered to the National Directorate of Inparques and later to the Inparques presidency, who issues a penalty to those involved. Simultaneously, the complaint is made to the Prosecutor’s Office, who expeditiously acts on the events that occurred, such as the damage to the intermittent lagoon Los Verdecitos, located in the vicinity of the Collado del Cóndor.
Leal thanked Attorney General Tarek William Saab for his quick response with the investigations and arrests, in addition to the assignment of two national environmental prosecutors.
The security forces activated were the officers of the Bolivarian National Police and the Páramo Axis Zone commandos of the Bolivarian National Guard.
Complaint
The authority of Inparques Mérida, Franklin Leal indicated that the complaint was made to the Prosecutor’s Office for damage to an environment of the Merida moor, which was forwarded to the Twenty-Third Prosecutor of the Public Ministry.
This document indicates that the place where the environmental infraction took place is in the Collado del Cóndor sector, via Piñango, San Rafael parish, Rangel municipality (Mucuchíes), within the limits of the Polygonal that makes up the Sierra de La Sierra National Park. Culata, in the zoning designated as Primitive or Wild Zone, specifically in Los Verdecitos Lagoon, Las Cruces moor.
He explained that as a result of the piques in that place, damage was caused to the water mirror and the destruction of the frailejones by the presence of people in the place.
Preparation of the technical report
Leal reported that the Sierra La Culata Park coordination staff is collecting information on the damage caused to this fragile area of the moor, which will be delivered to the National Park Division, who will issue a technical report on what happened that will allow sanctions to be issued. .
“There is an approximate damage of 7,000 square meters, however, we must wait for the final report, likewise, the frailejón, the Espeletia Shultzii species,” he added.
On Sunday, June 5, a cleaning day was held at Laguna Los Verdecitos, where more than 55 kilos of garbage were collected, including bottles and plastic.
Actions in the Páramo axis
As for the actions to avoid this ecological damage, it was determined that on snowy days the protection of natural spaces will be strengthened with the security agencies and the prevention commissions will rise.
In addition to increasing the number of park rangers at the Inparques points of Mucubají and Mifafí to give better attention and protection to natural areas.
Leal pointed out that caring for the environment is a job between the communities and Inparques, which is why talks have been held on the comprehensive management of National Parks and buffer zones in the educational centers of the Páramo axis.
Leal indicated that the poor management of solid waste in the areas of the park also harms the ecosystem. “This is an environmental crime that will also be punished.”
He explained that from the Laguna de Mucubají to the Laguna de La Victoria seven garbage dumps have been identified, “the same locals are harming the environment,” Leal emphasized.
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