Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Rescuing the Remains of the Caparo Forest

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CARACAS, May 9 2011 (IPS) - The University of the Andes in Venezuela is calling for urgent action to salvage the remains of the Caparo Forest, located in the southwestern lowlands and fed by tributaries of the Orinoco River, which has suffered from uncontrolled logging since the late 20th century. “Of the original forested area barely 10 percent or 7,000 hectares remains, plus scattered parcels distributed over more than 1,000 established landholdings,” said Professor Wilfredo Franco, who leads up the university team advocating the protection of the Caparo.

“The forest continues to be invaded by smallholders who illegally occupy the land for use as pasture or to plant cassava or banana and other fruit trees,” he told Tierramérica.

Among the measures to save what is left of the forest, the university is calling on the authorities to update the land registry, include the area in the national reforestation program, reinforce cooperation between the authorities and the university, construct infrastructure to protect the forest, and develop an educational campaign in the region.