Ten reasons
to protect our National Parks
1. More than 80% of the drinkable
water consumed by the Venezuelan people comes from the National Parks
2. They represent alternative sources of sustainable development
for local communities
3. They work as big lungs absorbing the pollution that affects
our health and life quality
4. They are a sample of the landscape and environmental diversity
of the country and consequently are highly attractive for national and
international tourism.
5. They function as a reservoir for biological diversity. In
Venezuela there are 17,000 plant species, around 1,400 species of birds,
351 mammals, 341 reptiles and nearly 1,790 species of fish.
6. They are areas of recreation and relaxation for the Venezuelan
population.
7. They provide opportunities
for scientific research on natural resources potentially useful for
the treatment of a variety of diseases.
8. They cover 15% of the country.
9. They guarantee the preservation of the ecological processes.
10. They constitute part of our national wealth for the benefit
and enjoyment of future generations.
Recommendations
for the protection of our National Parks
LISTEN, OBSERVE ...AND ENJOY NATURE..
Dispose the rubbish in the containers provided for that purpose or take
it with you outside the park.
Remember not to
alter the ecological equilibrium of the park by extracting animals,
plants or minerals.
Do not buy or bother
the wild fauna and flora. Don't paint or write in rocks or park infrastructure.
Respect the signs
and use the existing trails to move around the park.
Do not light fires,
do not throw cigarette butts or carry flammable articles. They can cause
severe fires.
The streams constitute
the habitat of many animals and are very important for humans. If you
need to use detergent, use biodegradable ones to avoid pollution.
If you visit a
marine National Park don't use harpoons to fish, they cause irreversible
damage to the seabed, scare away the fish and kill the coral reef.
Avoid using anchors
on top of corals. Avoid touching them or taking them as souvenirs. All
these actions produce fractures that result in bacterial infections
and could even cause death.
Do not dispose
waste in the sea. Besides polluting the beaches, it can cause critical
damage to many marine species like turtles and dolphins.
The use of radios
or any other kind of sound equipment disturb the wildlife and other
visitors of the park. PLEASE do not take them with you, enjoy the sounds
of nature instead.
If you are in a
National Park and need information, look for help in the nearest ranger
station.
The best allies
of the National Parks are their visitors. Report to the ranger or to
the National Guard any irregular situation you come across. If you wish
to camp in any National Park, you must carry a permit previously issued
at INPARQUES offices.
