Terepaima National Park expanded in Venezuela

Venezuela has officially expanded the Terepaima National Park through a new publication in the Official Gazette. The park now covers approximately 31,292.92 hectares, spanning several municipalities in Lara state, including Iribarren, Palavecino, Simón Planas, Andrés Eloy Blanco, and Jiménez, as well as parts of Araure in Portuguesa state.

Lievano León, head of Inparques, stated that the expansion aims to protect the ecological corridor of the spectacled bear and preserve local biodiversity. Under the new mandate, Inparques and official cartography entities must demarcate the park's boundaries within one year. Additionally, the Ministry of Environment is tasked with developing an official management and usage plan.

Environmental protection efforts will include sanitation tasks and surveillance conducted by the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) in coordination with Inparques. Authorities have also issued warnings regarding forest fires due to high temperatures caused by the ‘Super Niño’ phenomenon and emphasized the importance of proper reforestation near water basins.