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Tropical dry forests in Venezuela: assessing status, threats and future prospects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2009

J. P. RODRÍGUEZ ,
J. M. NASSAR ,
K. M. RODRÍGUEZ-CLARK ,
I. ZAGER ,
C. A. PORTILLO-QUINTERO ,
F. CARRASQUEL  and
S. ZAMBRANO
J. P. RODRÍGUEZ*
Affiliation:
Centro de Ecología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Apdo 20632, Caracas 1020-A, Venezuela Provita, Apdo 47552, Caracas 1041-A, Venezuela
J. M. NASSAR
Affiliation:
Centro de Ecología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Apdo 20632, Caracas 1020-A, Venezuela
K. M. RODRÍGUEZ-CLARK
Affiliation:
Centro de Ecología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Apdo 20632, Caracas 1020-A, Venezuela
I. ZAGER
Affiliation:
Provita, Apdo 47552, Caracas 1041-A, Venezuela
C. A. PORTILLO-QUINTERO
Affiliation:
Earth Observation Systems Laboratory (EOSL), Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E3
F. CARRASQUEL
Affiliation:
Provita, Apdo 47552, Caracas 1041-A, Venezuela
S. ZAMBRANO
Affiliation:
Centro de Ecología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Apdo 20632, Caracas 1020-A, Venezuela
*
*Correspondence: Dr J. P. Rodríguez Tel/Fax: + 58 212 504 1617 e-mail: jonpaul@ivic.ve
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Summary

Tropical dry forests may be among the world's most threatened ecosystems, but few studies have objectively quantified their status and threats. This study analysed Venezuelan dry forests at multiple scales, assessing status, present threats and the policy context shaping their future. Historical and current dry forest cover at both national and local scales were contrasted, and a set of quantitative risk assessment criteria applied. While dry forests were vulnerable nationally, in northern-central locations they were endangered. Clearing for cattle ranching and for intensive and subsistence agriculture were the principal factors driving dry forest loss at the national scale, while at a local level, urbanization and fire seemed to be the primary threats. The analysis emphasized the separation of risk assessment from the very different task of establishing conservation priorities; high risk areas may not necessarily be the highest priority for investment, and policy makers may become explicitly aware of the spatial scale at which their policies are implemented, as well as how these policies may affect or be affected by the status of ecosystems beyond their area of influence. The main challenge to future dry forest conservation is a paucity of explicit policies for management and use. However, scientifically-based management can support positive dry forest policies in many ways, including identifying locations and protocols for ecological restoration, maintaining seed banks, quantifying baseline conditions, and monitoring genetic diversity and other indicators.

Keywords

conservation statusdrivers of changepolicy optionsremote sensingtropical dry forestsVenezuela

Information

Type
Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , December 2008 , pp. 311 - 318
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2009

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