Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Maritime University of the Caribbean

Vice Rector’s Office
Bachelor's degree on Tourism
English III

Environmental Management Plan

for the Morrocoy National Park, Venezuela

Teacher:
Student:
Olivo Alexandra
 Catia la mar, December 2022
Introduction
Since 1974 Morrocoy has been a National Park because the natural resources in
that area gather the conditions to be declared an Area under the Special
Administration Regime (ABRAE). In 1996 there was a massive death of corals due
to an event that affected the different ecosystems of the park, and generated a
notable decrease in coral cover and species. Between 60 and 98% of the corals
were destroyed (Laboy-Nieves et al., 2001). Natural recovery is limited due to the
little control of the use of the coastal zone. The tourist demand, the contributions of
fresh water, sediments and Nutrients provided by the Aroa, Tocuyo and Yaracuy
rivers decrease salinity, proliferate algae and its increase in coverage frees up
competition by the free substrate, thus decreasing the possibility for coral larvae to
establish while suffocate polyps from damaged colonies.
The extent of stress on reefs and the current situation is mainly caused by the high
sedimentation, His sensitivity and the degree of threat justify the protection of these
ecosystems. The absence of management plans, the influx of tourists and the
population increase have generated a disorderly growth of infrastructures and
equipment that has accelerated over time
Materials and method
Given the practical difficulties of preventing environmental impacts on coastal
ecosystems, a method that focuses on evaluating efforts and managing the causes
was proposed. The causes of environmental aspects (liquid effluents, solid waste,
and atmospheric emissions) can be predicted, measured and evaluated with a
preventive approach. A procedure that identifies environmental aspects and
contrasts them with a number of independent criteria (legal limits, environmental
fragility, and risks) was developed. The method was applied in coastal ecosystems
of Morrocoy National Park, with an emphasis on the reef, to assess the impacts
(reef degradation) and causes (environmental aspects), proposing an
Environmental Management Plan that mitigates the continuous impacts on the
reef. Therefore, it is concluded that the assessment of environmental aspects in
coastal areas is an effective way to prevent reef degradation regardless of global
environmental effects that local actors cannot control.
The main concept that structured the work is the environmental aspect (AA),
defined as the result of human activities that can generate environmental impacts,
The concept of AA structures environmental management with a focus on
prevention of causes, in place of recovery of impacted ecosystems. For this
reason, the methodology used in this study focuses attention on AEs, the causes
of impacts, rather than measuring ecosystem health. AA can be predicted,
measured and quantified. On the contrary, the Environmental Impacts (IE) do not
cannot be predicted in detail, nor can they be precisely quantified, the close
relationship between ecosystems makes it impossible to predict how far it will go
each AI and how it will affect an initially unimpacted ecosystem.
The development of the PGA consists of identifying and analyze the AA caused by
human activities carried out in the coastal zone and design early management
measures to prevent AA occur. This allows to reduce efforts, costs and damage to
the environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL
HUMAN ACTIVITIES
ASPECTS IMPACTS
(developed in the
(causes of (permanent damage to
coastal zone):
environmental impacts): ecosystems):

-
-Sea transport of tourists
-Agriculture in the basin
-Hotels in coastal áreas
-Others.
- Solid waste
-hydrocarbon pollution
- Atmospheric emissions
- Biodiversity loss
- Liquid effluents
- Coral Death
- Others.
The preservation and protection of the natural and cultural heritage of our country
depends on our actions and consciousness. Collaborate with us by following the
rules and recommendations given at the Protected Areas.
Ask park rangers for information about authorized places and recommendations to
perform any kind of activity.
LEAVE NO TRACE
 Remember that the main principle is avoiding risks. Prevention is
fundamental, and self-care and planning your trips are the most important
points.

 Set your tent and cook ONLY at properly authorized and designated areas.

 Do not expose yourself to legal actions and expulsion from the protected
area or even deportation in case of foreigners.

 Observe the trails closing time. Check in at every park ranger station.

 Take all the litter out of the protected area.

 Always follow park ranger instructions

 Notify or inform about any dangerous behavior or situation

Environmental Management Plan (PGA)

The negative effects on the marine-coastal ecosystems of the PNM are due to the
inadequate management of the local AA resulting from the activities carried out in
the area (the most relevant being solid waste and effluents), this determines the
the need to establish specific measures to manage the activities carried out
currently inappropriately.
There is currently a need to carry out projects for new service infrastructure and in
some cases for updating existing facilities. To a large extent the services of
Tucacas are outdated and are not capable of serving the current population of
visitors.
Conservation and preservation are key words that visitors to the Morrocoy National
Park, located in the Falcón state, should keep in mind. Currently, it is suffering the
consequences of the negative and irrational interference of the human hand, which
has set aside ecological awareness and has failed to appreciate the valuable
ecosystem that this natural reserve presents.
Hypothesis
Local environmental problems associated with the use of the territory and the
human activities carried out nearby, are the main causes of degradation of the
coastal marine ecosystems of the PNM, with emphasis on its coral reefs. Although
authors identify climate change and ocean acidification as part of the main
problems of the degradation of the reefs, the objective of this study is to develop a
PGA: a set of good environmental practices locally to minimize anthropogenic
pressures. The PGA is designed and executed locally (municipalities, park
authority, tour operators) to prevent impacts, eliminating the causes through
regulation of the concrete activities that occur in the area of influence. In this
scenario, the global effects associated with climate change are not a core element.
Tourism
The economy of Tucacas is based on tourist activity, it has docks, jetties and
private marinas for the transport of tourists, as well such as inns and large hotels.
However, the coast of Tucacas is extremely neglected and disorganized, there are
many constructions on the edge of the coast in breach of the provisions of the
Decree-Law of Zones Coastal (minimum 80 m free between the line of highest tide
and constructions), and access is limited and narrow preventing the flow of tourists.
 Conclusión
The environmental aspects originating from actions most relevant anthropic (solid
waste and effluents) coincide with other investigations that propose that the
increase in sedimentation coming from of rivers and overpopulation are the main
agents of deterioration of coral reefs, in this case of the Morrocoy National Park
(PNM). What was observed in the field and the results of the analysis agree with
the pattern found by others. researchers, where the reefs with the worst condition
of health are those close to the coastal zones and with high anthropogenic
pressure, while those furthest away of the continent present a better state of
health.
The Environmental Management Plan that may result of the evaluation of
environmental aspects conforms to the current needs of the PNM, and can be a
very valuable complement to the Management Plan that this protected area has
(that allows it to be updated and made tangible). The evaluation of compliance with
the legislation environment, carried out in this study, shows that. The real problem
is compliance with the legislation and not its absence.