Caura threatened
Sunday, March 09, 2008
The mega-biological, cultural diversity, high water production and environmental services rendered to humanity are not sufficient reasons to retain the Caura River Basin, where gold mining is

Evelyn Guzman Bigott

Although its surface represents only five percent of the Venezuelan territory, the Caura River Basin is considered by many scientists as one of the last frontier forests of the planet's rainforests, which is kept pristine. However, his mega life, its cultural diversity, its high water production and environmental services rendered to humanity are not sufficient grounds for their conservation, where gold mining is. In recent days, nearly 600 miners were evicted by the military authorities in a fresh incursion in this unique ecosystem in the world, after members of the indigenous organization Kuyujani reported to the National Assembly and the security agencies of the State the presence of miners in the area.

 
"We recognize that the job is a human right and as such we respect, but it must be exercised with responsibility, because the consequences of this practice threaten the rights that we all have, to have a healthy environment, clean water, security, tranquillity and a life in harmony that we have the Yekwana and Sanema who live there, "said the general coordinator of Kuyujani, Arturo Rodriguez.

Although the various threats to the basin, from the advance of the agricultural frontier and livestock, illegal logging, the creation of a city and even a potential to provide hydroelectric power, mining is the only economic activity that is completely prohibited by Venezuelan law.

As local scientists warn, increased mining activity in this watershed, jeopardize this ecosystem that provides a valuable service environment against global warming by ensuring approximately 0.14 of the oxygen on the planet (the Amazon accounts for 20%).

STATE MINING

Since the arrival of the Spaniards to these lands have been several attempts to explore the mysterious basin Caura, but the intricacies of their jungle and steep Leaping To, made impenetrable, until in the 18 and 19 centuries, greed of the exploiters of oils, resins, balatá and sarrapia negatively impacted not only on the lush forests of the basin, but also decimating indigenous groups in the area. Now, in the middle of the 21 st century, the "Golden Legend" threat again Caura watershed.

The director of the state Ministry of Environment, Hugo Nunez recalled that for 300 years, Bolivar has been a land mine, an activity that is breaking into sites where they were evicted by military force, however be "an activity that is absolutely prohibited in Caura watershed. " He explained that the work of the Ministry has focused on developing environmental education programs in mining areas and indigenous communities in the state.

But the same story realizes that to a "bulla mining," there is no environmental awareness to stop the mining.

For anthropologist and researcher at the Universidad Nacional Experimental de Guayana (Uneg) Nalúa Silva Monterrey, "the illegal miners have been reported to the authorities and infraganti captured, but some institutional paralysis makes them free and let them return to their commit misdeeds, however is one of the responsibilities of the State through its institutions to safeguard this area and to ensure its preservation. "

SINGLE FORESTS

"Forests of the Caura possess characteristics that make them unique. On one side in the bottom features orinoquenses and at the top are presented as the Amazon forest, "explains anthropologist.

In fact, a scientific study conducted by the Institute for Ecological Research Orinoco-Esequibo, La Salle Foundation, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Institute of Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin (USA), gives an account of the variety of life zones that exist in this basin, which range from dry tropical forest to wet montane forest.

In its 5 million hectares, the basin is home Caura five areas under special administrative regime: the national park Jawa Sarisariñama, ecosystem tepuis (plateaus) only with peaks are found in the caves of enigmatic vertical depth of 350 meters, with flora highly endemic and fauna; Natural Monument Serrania Maigualida Ichún Guanacoco and, in addition to the Protected Zone Southern Bolivar State, a major water reservoir where it is the headwaters of several rivers and the Caura Forest Reserve, and since 1969 as decreed which owns the valuable forests.

In addition, retains 17 percent of floral species in the country and more than 32 percent of wildlife and national reports an ethnic diversity currently represented by seven indigenous groups: `Ye kwana, Sanema, Hotď, Pemon, Guajibo, Piapoco and Kariña .

Anthropologist Monterrey Silva warns that the presence mining endangers all of this and even the survival of indigenous peoples.

He said that the obligation to protect this heritage, not only for local people but also for our children and their descendants, ye'kwana and sanema the Caura, led the investigative agencies and regional institutions with expertise in the area, to commit to seek appropriate solutions, "which are based on the collective awareness on the importance of this reservoir of life for our country and the commitment of all to prevent their destruction."

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE COASTAL ECOSYSTEM

The impact of mining activity in this unique ecosystem is being evaluated by a group of researchers at the Uneg and La Salle Foundation, which warn about the lack of decontamination measures and reconstruction, "economically viable" to be applied in this habitat .

Scientists explained that riparian forests and shrub communities act as regulators of the physical and chemical characteristics of adjacent aquatic ecosystems, in turn influencing the biodiversity of the same, through the biological chains: bacteria, phyto and zooplankton, macroalgae, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, fish, mammals, freshwater batrachians, reptiles, birds, as well as some terrestrial vertebrates.

Also, explain that the mining scattered over large areas, toxic mercury generating an ecological devastation as:

They destroy soil
They increase the sediment load in rivers with the consequent disruption of its hydraulic dynamics of the existing riparian habitat and biota
They disappear and cease local species
Contaminan fish with mercury and thus human populations that consume
They reduce the fishery resource which is the main source of livelihood for the people of the area
Sobreexplotan natural resources by the sudden increase of the population in the region
Promoted by an increase in the incidence of endemic and emerging diseases.

CRISIS FOR REFLECTION

"The crises are good because they serve to make people reflect," said anthropologist ever Nalúa Silva Monterrey and this is the time to make a commitment to the responsibility which requires in Article 125, the Constitution of Venezuela: "protect the environment for the benefit of itself and of the future world. " How?

"Well, if you know someone with the power to act on this issue and call plantéele the situation, we can not remain impassive. Let all our bit, "Silva mentioned blunt Monterrey defender extreme of the last pristine watershed of the tropical world.

Operation Tepuy

As part of Operation Tepuy ordered by the Venezuelan President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Hugo Chavez Frias, in order to preserve water resources, forestry and mining in the watershed of the rivers and Caura Caroní threatened by illegal mining, the National Armed Forces (FAN) this week evicted about 600 miners mostly undocumented Colombians and Brazilians.

The note of the Association Bolivarian News notes that the commander of the Theater of Operations No. 5 of the Armed Forces (TO-5), Brigadier General Jose Gregorio Montilla executed these enforcement actions in response to allegations made by indigenous communities to meet The grave situation created by the penetration of illegal miners in the last virgin forest reserve in the country. He said that 522 troops from Infantry Battalion Selva Francisco de Miranda and the Navy, as well as troops from Special Forces Battalion based in Hurí are quartered in the town of Caicara del Orinoco, to stop any activity against the environment .