WORLD RAINFOREST MOVEMENT
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VENEZUELA: YANOMAMI BIOSPHERE RESERVE SECURED
INFORMATION SHEET UPDATE 15/08/91
This information sheet confirms and adds to the preliminary
information distributed on 12 July 1991.
The 83,000 km2 Biosphere Reserve in the Upper Orinoco which was
signed into being on the 6 June 1991 by the Venezuelan President
was legally established on 1 August 1991, with the publication
of the Decree in the Official Gazette.
This may be the largest area of Amazonian rainforest to be
subject to protected area legislation yet established.
INTERMINISTERIAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Presidential Decree 1,635 created the Biosphere Reserve of the
Upper Orinoco-Casiquiare. The decree, which places the Reserve
under the authority of the Ministry of the Environment and
Renewable Natural Resources, also establishes a management
committee to regulate affairs within it. This committee is to
include representatives of the ministries of environment, foreign
affairs, defence, health, agriculture, education and transport.
It will also include representatives of the national research
council (CONICIT), the national parks office, the regional
development parastatal for the Guayana region (CVG), the
government of the Amazon Territory, the central university (UCV)
the Catholic Church and also Indian representatives from both
ethnic groups whose territories overlap the reserve (Ye'kuana and
Yanomami).
The Ministry of the Environment is to draw up a management plan
for the reserve over the coming two years, with the help of the
committee, which is to be supported by SADA-AMAZONAS (see
previous information sheet). The boundaries are clearly
established by the decree but physical demarcation of the reserve
is to be concluded in five years.
INDIAN RIGHTS RECOGNISED
The decree clearly recognises Indian rights to land and natural
resources. It establishes measures to protect the Indians
traditional livelihoods and, indirectly, acknowledges the
Indians' rights of ownership of their lands by stating that the
decree is in accord the Venezuelan law which recognised
Convention 107 of the International Labour Organisation.
The decree also prohibits any colonisation of the area or any
other interventions which violate the rights of the Indian
communities. At the same time it directs the Ministry of the
Environment to promote self-development (`autogestion') and
ethno-development (`etnodesarrollo') among the Indian communities
in the Reserve and stimulate their participation.
The decree authorises the Ministry of the Environment to approve
the necessary preventative measures, in consultation with the
Indian communities, when changes in settlement patterns or new
economic practices threaten to damage the environment.
At the same time the decree insists that all management plans for
the various protected areas established within the reserve
respect the territorial unity of the Indian populations.
NATIONAL PARK
As noted in the previous information sheet, a large part of the
Yanomami territory in the Orinoco headwaters is, in addition to
falling within the new Biosphere Reserve, designated as the
National Park of Parima-Tapirapeco. Presidential Decree 1,636,
published simultaeously in the Official Gazette, thereby provides
stricter environmental controls over resource exploitation in
this area.
The law makes somewhwat similar references to the Indians' rights
and notes that the Indians' settlement pattern, land use and way
of life have ensured the conservation of the area. The Indians'
rights to expand their activities within the Park are recognised,
but again subject to the proviso that these shall not be judged
damaging to the environment, in which case measures shall be
developed in consultation with the Indian communities to prevent
and/or change such activities.
The decree makes provision for consultations with the Indians'
own organisation, the United Yanomami Communities of the Upper
Orinoco (SUYAO), in the elaboration of the management plan for
the Park, which is to be developed according to the same
stipulations as set out for the Biosphere Reserve which embraces
it.
For more information contact: Marcus Colchester Tel: 060 876 691
Fax: 44 60876743