In Depth Coverage

Empowering forest preservation in Venezuela's Sierra de Portuguesa: An Andean bear framework

La Sierra de Portuguesa, northeast end of the Venezuelan Andes, is a high-priority area for conservation given its biogeographical condition and the potential fragmentation of its remnants forests. Three National Parks has been established but they are partially isolated from each other, and surrounded by a landscape mosaic of human activities that expands continuously.

This range contains key watersheds for water supply and internal food production in Venezuela. No up-to-date land cover information, however, is available for accurate decision making regarding management and preservation of the remnant forests.

This project was designed to generate scientifically-sound information on land cover across Sierra de Portuguesa, filling existing gaps, and generating guidelines for the protection of its natural habitats and resources.

Following previous successful experiences on ecosystem preservation across the Andes, the ecological requirements of the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus), an endangered species, will be used in this project as main framework.

• Link With Climate Change

  Open

  This project seeks to empower the protection of the remnants forests in Sierra de Portuguesa, ensuring the long-term preservation of 5 major watersheds in Venezuela. These are key water suppliers for the main urban and agricultural areas across the country, and thus, extremely important for future adaptation to climate change, population well-being, food security and development.

  The project also seeks to reduce current rates of deforestation and thus local carbon emissions, and it is focused on ensuring the connectivity of the existing national parks to maintain ecosystem integrity.

• Objectives

  Open

  Main Objective:
  Evaluate land cover, forest prevalence and Andean bear presence across Sierra de Portuguesa.

  Specific objectives
  - Generate a land cover map for Sierra de Portuguesa.
  - Evaluate forest cover availability, fragmentation and connectivity.
  - Establish Andean bear presence across Sierra de Portuguesa and determine both environmental and anthropogenic factors that act as modulators.
  - Generate guidelines for the establishment of a management strategy towards the protection of the key remaining forested areas and the local Andean bear population.

• Work plan

  Open

  Later

• Schedule

  Open

  Later

• Technical and Scientific Approach & Methods Proposed

  Open

  Generation of a GIS database for Sierra de Portuguesa:
  Land Cover Map of Sierra de Portuguesa:
  Following a hybrid classification process, a set of satellite images will be classified into 7 cover categories (Primary forest, Secondary forest, Shaded-Coffee, Open small-scale agriculture, Open intensive agriculture, Urban areas, Others), using previously collected ground control points. The categories where defined according to previous knowledge of the study site.

  Fuzzy classifiers will be used as algorithms to better account for the mix nature of the landscape in Sierra de Portuguesa and Andean bear ecology. Ancillary data will include: STRM-DEM variables in relation to topography and aspect, texture indexes and geographical coordinates.

  Analysis on fragmentation and connectivity of forest patches will be carried out together with assessments of the extent of legal protection and altitudinal gradient.

  Digitisation of hard-copy maps:
  A set of 5 hard-copy maps (1:100,000) has been digitized to incorporate information on hydrography, transportation networks and location of human settlements to the GIS database being developed for the Sierra de Portuguesa.

  Andean bear distribution and habitat-use:
  Data on bear presence across Sierra de Portuguesa were collected using bear-sign censuses across randomly selected transects (500x10m), following 3 years of fieldwork (2003-2006). Five different cover types were sampled: Primary and Secondary Forest, Forest Edge, Agriculture and Dirt roads. Presence of human disturbance and food resources availability was also recorded.

  Modeling:
  Using the variables gathered in the GIS database, Regression models will be combined with Ecological-Niche factor analyses (ENFA) and Distance Mahalanobis estimations (D2) to identify factors modulating forest presence and Andean bear distribution and habitat-use. The results obtained will allow the identification of core areas, buffer and high-risk zones to establish guidelines urgently required for both forest preservation and Andean bear conservation in Sierra de Portuguesa.

• Results

  Open

  - Detailed land cover map of Sierra de Portuguesa and assessment of threats to forest cover and connectivity.

  - Standarized methods to assess land cover in mountainous environments.

  - List of factors that modulate forest presence in Sierra de Portuguesa.

  - Guidelines for the design of a management strategy across Sierra de Portuguesa to ensure forest preservation and biodiversity conservation, with emphasis on the local Andean bear population. This information will serve as model for other protected areas across the species range.

  - Probability map of Andean bear distribution and habitat-use in Sierra de Portuguesa.

  - List of factors that modulate Andean bear distribution and habitat-use.

  - Detailed picture of the threats faced by small Andean bear populations and Andean bear habitat.

  - Standardized field methods applicable to Latin American countries and to wildlife conservation planning.

• Deliverables

  Open

  Later

• Use of Satellite Imagery and GIS Solutions

  Open

  Later

• Local Actions

  Open

  This project, together with Fundación para la Defensa de la Naturaleza (FUNDENA), has advised the Venezuelan Institute of National Parks, on the status of protected and non-protected forests across Sierra de Portuguesa. A draft for the extension of Terepaima National Park to protect the only remnant forest connection with Yacambú National Park was submitted to the national goverment for consideration.
  
  A total of six field-assistants from local communities and two undergraduate students were trained on wildlife conservation and field-data collection.
  
  The project has promoted and encourage local groups and communities interested in watershed preservation and biodiversity conservation. It has developed or contributed with three environmental education activities with across the study site and it plans to continue these efforts in the future.
  
  It has actively participated in a national effort to update the Venezuelan Andean Bear Action Plan, and it is involved in promoting its application across the country.

• Miscellaneous information / interesting details on project

  Open

  Project achievements up-to-date:
  
  Since 2003, three stages of fieldwork have being conducted for this project. An Exploratory Stage, in which the three National Parks in Sierra de Portuguesa and non-protected forest patches where visited, including the link between Yacambú and Terepaima National Parks ("The Ecological Corridor"). Andean bear historical distribution was established, together with a preliminary characterization of local needs and attitudes towards biodiversity conservation. Over 400 bear-signs were found on a total of 18 field-trips. More than 30 open-ended interviews to local people were conducted.
  
  As the Second Stage of the project, during 2004, a Pilot Study was carried out to test field methods, train field assistants and evaluate bear presence across "The Ecological Corridor". Data on land cover was collected across the study area, and the NDVI map initially developed for Sierra de Portuguesa proved not to be an accurate reflection of field reality. A total of 322 bear-signs were found across 10 fixed-width transects (500x10m). Results showed significant differences on bear presence between land cover categories. Bear presence within "The Ecological Corridor" gave evidence of the importance of this area to ensure ecosystem connectivity between the National Parks.
  
  A Large-Scale Stage was carried out from September 2005 to December 2006, to: 1)collect the ground-control-points (GCPs) required for the development of the land cover map of Sierra de Portuguesa, and 2) gather data on Andean bear distribution and habitat-use across different cover types. Over 500 GCPs were collected and classified in one of 7 main cover categories. A total of 137 bear-sign censuses across truncated-distance sampling transects (500x10m).
  
  Finally, during August 2005, two undergraduate students were involved on the establishment of a Sign-Aging Project, to evaluate bear-sign decay and disappearance. These results will be used to correlate bear presence to human disturbance.

• Region Name

  Open
  Sierra de Portuguesa

• Partners involved in project

  Open
  - Wildlife Research Group, University of Cambridge. UK- Universidad Simón Bolívar. Venezuela.- Fundación Andígena. Venezuela.