Henri Pittier National Park

GENERAL INFORMATION

Historical review

The increase in massive deforestation in the central region of Venezuela, the intensification of agricultural activity in the fertile lands of the state of Aragua and Carabobo and the demographic and industrial growth in recent years have accelerated and aggravated the process of human intervention in the natural environment, creating a general picture of ecological mismatch and environmental deterioration.Between the 30s and 40s the renowned scientist Henri Pittier quickly alerted the authorities about the handicapping situation in which the plant masses of those central states were found, lacking an effective and permanent protection against the agents of destruction and advised the measures that should be adopted to safeguard the integrity of their natural resources.

Pittier’s efforts to save the region happily crystallized into a very positive official action, which was the creation of the First Venezuelan National Park, in the jurisdiction of the Aragua State. This timely and accurate provision ensured the protection of one of the most important clumps of cloud forest and laid the groundwork for the advent years later of the National System of Natural Protected Areas of Venezuela.

This National Park was established by Decree dated February 13, 1937 and known under the name of Rancho Grande. Later, in 1953, the name was changed to Henri Pittier in honor of this great scientist who had proposed and managed his creation.

The Henri Pittier Park is located in the North-Central region, in the Girardot and Mariño Districts of the Aragua State. Originally it covered an approximate area of ​​90,000 hectares, currently its extension reaches 107,800 hectares.

Decrees

Plan of Regulation and Regulation of use

Altimetry

0-2,436

Weather

Variable with the height: warm humid on the coast, warm dry in the savannahs and coastal bushes and damp cold on the summits.

Temperature

6º C to 28º C.

Precipitation (mm)

690 – 4,000 mm.

Water resources

The Turiamo, Tasting, The Ocumare, The Cuyagua, The Aroa, The Choroní, The Chuao, The Cepe, The Guayabita, The Delights, The Lemon, Caño colorado.

state

Aragua and Carabobo

Public consultation

Yes

Date of the Public Consultation workshops

19 AT 08/21/1992

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Geological and Geomorphological Information

Irregular topography, formed by steep slopes and narrow transverse valleys in the northern vertex. All this abrupt landscape belongs to the mountainous system of the Cordillera de la Costa, formed by mesozoic metamorphic rocks, dating from the Cretaceous, approximately 70 million years ago. There are also basic and acid rocks: The small valleys are landscapes of the recent Quaternary. These mountainous landscapes are very dynamic and with a certain frequency occur landslides in areas of very steep slopes, under conditions of persistent torrential rains.

Vegetation

Herbazales and coastal shrubs, deciduous and semi-deciduous seasonal forests, coastal cloud forests. In the skirts, xerophytic forest, dry deciduous shrub forest, savanna vegetation and very wet transitional evergreen forests with maritime influence. In the high mountain, cloudy forest and upper cloudy forest. Very high relative humidity: over 1,000 meters above sea level.

Flora

It presents a high diversity due to the large number of environments protected by the park. The chaparros (Curatella americana, Boudichia virgiloides), the majaguas (Heliocarpus sp.) And the palo maría (Triplaris sp.) Are characteristic of the forests at lower altitudes. The bucket or child (Gyranthera caribensis) is an indicator of the cloud forest, as well as the macule (Bactris setulosa), cane molinillo (Chamedorea pinnatifrons), prapa (Wettinia praemorsa) and other genera Geonoma, Hyospathe and Socratea. Araceae, orchids, bromeliads and piperáceas stand out in the group of epiphytic plants. In the understory the platanillos stand out with several species of the genus heliconia.

Fauna

520 species of birds, representing approximately 41.6% of the national avifauna and 6.5% of the world total of bird species. Aerial steps of importance for migratory species, both birds and flying insects. At least 22 endemic species or those of restricted distribution, some threatened with extinction, such as the Paují stone turtle (Pauxi pauxi), endemic aquatic mouse (Ichtyomys pittieri), marsupial water dog (Chironectes minimus), jaguar (Pantera onca), puma (Puma concolor), cunaguaro (Felis pardales), araguato monkey (Alouatta seniculus), tapir (terrestrial Tapirus), cuchicuchi (Potus flavus) and weasel (Eira barbara).