Sustainable management of Venezuela's Forests: Policies vs. Reality

Forest Policy Framework Established by the Venezuelan Forest Service	Results on the Ground (As indicated in previous analyses of The Venezuelan Forest Service)
Management based on the conservation of forest ecosystems and sustainable development	Management which emphasizes “sustained yield” timber extraction rather than sustainable management
Integration of forest management functions within the forest service and with other departments in the Ministry of Environment	Lack of forest policy coordination within the ministry as well as among regional ministry offices
Development and strengthening of scientific forest management research	The research department has 5 staff in Caracas and 2 in Bolivar; between 1996 and 1997 only 1 research project was carried out in the Guayana region By 1991, 30 percent of scientific studies were carried out in the Guayana region, which makes up 90 percent of all public lands dedicated to forest management Evaluation of environmental and social impacts from logging is not considered a research priority Lack of a multi-disciplinary research staff–over 95 percent of all professional staff are foresters
An adequate program of vigilance and control in Forest Reserves	Only 15 technical forestry personnel to administer and monitor 12 million hectares of production forests in the Guayana region By 1994, 1,262 illegal occupants affected 39 percent of the Ticoporo Forest Reserve; 44 percent of the Caparo Forest Reserve had been occupied by illegal squatters
Diminish the pressure to develop forests for uses incompatible with forestry	Local residents receive few benefits from forestry Lack of education at the public level in regard to the value of forests
Promote human resources development and staff training	Forestry professionals are paid between $400-$900 per month Many professionals leave the Forest Service for higher-paying jobs
Mining is incompatible with forestry and cannot be reconciled with the objectives of forest management	Promotion of mining in over 40 percent of the Imataca Forest Reserve, according to Decree 1850
Elevate the role of the forest sector in the national and local economy	Forest sector represents only 1 percent of GDP Almost all forestry workers come from one town in Bolivar State and employment is seasonal Lack of local forestry extension programs
Forest sector participation in national and international fora relating to conservation and use of forest resources	No presence from Venezuela at the World Forestry Congress in 1997 Venezuela lost its membership in ITTO and failed to pay its dues to IUCN in 1997
Sources: Column one is based on the policy framework established according to Decree 275 “Decreto para la Creacion del Servicio Forestal Venezolano” (Caracas:Gaceta Oficial Extraordinaria No. 4,106, 1989); MARNR, “Marco Institucional y Funciones del Servicio Forestal Venezolano” (Caracas, 1990); MARNR “Gerencia del Servicio Forestal Venezolano en el Manejo y Desarrollo de los Recursos Forestales” Seminario Sobre el Manejo Forestal en Venezuela, (Caracas, 1991). Column two is based on J. Centeno, 1995; Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank, Field Report No. 19, 1994; L. Hernandez et al., 1994; L. Hernandez et al., 1997; C.J. Sharpe et al., 1994; A. Luy, 1992.