Publications
Selaginella brachyclada Baker
Selaginella brachyclada, a rare fern ally, is distinguished by its unique leaf morphology and habitat preferences. This species, previously misidentified or synonymized with other Selaginella species, thrives on moist rock ledges near waterfalls in tropical savanna and gallery forests, primarily in Guyana and Venezuela's Gran Sabana region within Canaima National Park. Its median leaves feature rounded to subcordate bases with hyaline inner margins and denticulate or entire apices, while axillary leaves are ovate-deltate to subcordate with subcordate to rounded bases. The study highlights its endangered status due to habitat threats like human-ignited fires and illegal gold mining, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 4,128.942 km² and area of occupancy (AOO) of 20 km². Selaginella brachyclada is assessed as Endangered under IUCN Criterion B, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation efforts.
Framing, Discourse, and Power Dynamics in the Venezuelan Ecosocialism Narrative: The Unbearable Burden on Vulnerable Communities.
Venezuela's ecosocialist policies, while framed as progressive, disproportionately burden indigenous and Afro-descendant communities through alliances with extractive industries. A comparative analysis of Laguna de Píritu, Morrocoy National Park, and Canaima National Park reveals a 'Polluter-Industrial Complex' that exacerbates environmental degradation and social inequalities. The study exposes how the regime co-opts discourses from indigenous and feminist movements to mask neoliberal practices, highlighting systemic oppression at the intersection of race, class, gender, and environmental harm. It calls for equitable, sustainable solutions prioritizing ecological integrity and social justice.
Leveraging limited data from wildlife monitoring in a conflict affected region in Venezuela
In conflict-affected regions with limited data, combining camera trap surveys with opportunistic off-camera records significantly improves wildlife monitoring accuracy. A study in Canaima National Park, Venezuela, demonstrated that supplementing camera detections with additional occurrence data—such as animal tracks and direct sightings—enhanced predictions for widespread species while yielding mixed results for restricted ones. The research used a resource selection function model accounting for imperfect detectability to assess wildlife responses to deforestation, fire, swidden agriculture, and human settlements. Despite security challenges and budget constraints, the approach revealed that focusing on one location with both on-camera and off-camera records is more effective than using cameras alone in multiple sites. This method supports conservation efforts in high-biodiversity areas where access is restricted.
Does biodiversity depend on geodiversity? Canaima National Park, Venezuela – case study.
Research in Canaima National Park, Venezuela, reveals that geodiversity—particularly the presence of distinctive Tepui and Mesa-type mountains—significantly influences biodiversity. The study found that terrain-based geodiversity is a dominant factor shaping species abundance, suggesting a strong link between geological features and ecological richness. To investigate this relationship, scientists mapped geodiversity while analyzing data on plant and animal species distribution. By isolating the impact of terrain in their synthetic geodiversity map, they identified key geological structures as critical determinants of biodiversity patterns.
Mapping the Amazon: Literary Geography After the Rubber Boom by Amanda M. Smith
Amanda M. Smith's Mapping the Amazon: Literary Geography After the Rubber Boom reveals that canonical South American novels challenge traditional cartography by depicting Amazonia through a 'living geography' rooted in Indigenous knowledge and multispecies wayfinding, contrasting it with the extractive industries' 'dead geography.' Analyzing works by Rivera, Gallegos, Vargas Llosa, Calvo, and Souza, Smith demonstrates how literary representations of the Amazon reflect historical extractivism while critiquing its cultural and ecological impacts. The study employs geocriticism and environmental humanities to dissect narratives, including a pivotal scene in La vorágine where a character navigates using Indigenous botanical cues, underscoring the region's complex interplay between literary imagination and real-world consequences.
After a decade, a new Venezuelan species of Corydalus Latreille (Megaloptera, Corydalidae, Corydalinae) is discovered
A new species of dobsonfly, Corydalus ralphi, has been identified in Canaima National Park, Venezuela, marking the first discovery of its kind in the country since 2012. This species shares a uniform reddish coloration with other Venezuelan Corydalus species but exhibits unique male genitalic structures that align it with the C. crossi species group. The discovery was made through the examination of two specimens collected from the Tarotá River in the Gran Sabana region, highlighting the biodiversity richness of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. A key to identify male Venezuelan Corydalus species is also provided, aiding future taxonomic studies.
An intercultural vision for integrated fire management in Venezuela
A paradigm shift towards intercultural integrated fire management is emerging in Venezuela, addressing the complex socio-political and ecological challenges posed by wildfires. This approach integrates traditional indigenous practices with modern firefighting strategies, aiming to mitigate the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, ecosystems, and vulnerable communities such as indigenous peoples, peasant populations, peri-urban dwellers, and firefighters. The study highlights the potential for a national fire management plan that balances cultural knowledge with technical expertise, drawing from advancements initially developed in Canaima National Park. This vision seeks to redefine fire's role not only as a threat but also as a valuable tool for land management.
Sensing Like a Shaman, Seeing Like a State: Guayana According to Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Gallegos's 1935 novel Canaima redefined the cultural and geographical identity of Venezuelan Guayana, a region where the Orinoco and Amazon river basins converge. The study reveals how Gallegos creatively adapted the pan-Indigenous concept of 'kanaima' to construct a resistance narrative against national economic homogenization and standardized geographic education. This alternative geography, however, was later appropriated by the state, becoming a symbol of Venezuelan autochthony in Canaima National Parkand beyond. The research explores intersections between literary geography, cultural appropriation, and Indigenous deterritorialization, highlighting how narratives shape both local identities and national policies.
Baseline for monitoring and habitat use of medium to large non-volant mammals in Gran Sabana, Venezuela
A comprehensive baseline for monitoring medium to large non-volant mammals in the Gran Sabana, Venezuela, reveals significant habitat associations and species richness comparable to lowland Guianas and Amazon sites. The study identified 29 mammal species, including endangered and vulnerable ones like Priodontes maximus and Panthera onca, using a stratified sampling design with camera traps across forest, shrub-intermediate, and savanna habitats. Notable findings include the first record of Myoprocta pratti in Canaima National Park and significant habitat preferences such as Cerdocyon thous for savanna (P < 0.01) and Leopardus pardalis for shrub-intermediate habitats (P < 0.05). The research also highlights ecological concerns due to the uncontrolled development of the Orinoco Mining Arc, which threatens biodiversity in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Community forest brigades and their implementation as part of a new vision in the integrated fire management in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
A new strategy integrating community forest brigades has significantly reduced fire-affected areas while empowering remote rural communities. This approach, part of Venezuela's Integrated Fire Management (IFM) policies since 2010, combines traditional indigenous knowledge with scientific criteria to combat wildfires in national parks like Canaima National Park. The strategy involves training and equipping volunteers from local communities, fostering a culture of self-protection and intercultural collaboration. Initial successes in Waraira Repano, Mochima, El Guácharo, and Canaima National Parks have laid the groundwork for a nationwide plan, emphasizing community involvement in Local Fire Management Plans.
Indigenous firefighters
A transformative shift towards participatory and intercultural fire management is proposed, integrating indigenous ancestral knowledge with technical expertise to address the increasing frequency and severity of vegetation fires in Canaima National Park. The study highlights that current suppression policies, driven by CORPOELEC-EDELCA, are ineffective and conflictual with Pemón communities' cultural practices. Through workshops and interviews, participants agreed on a new model of integral fire management, emphasizing the inclusion of indigenous communities in co-management schemes. This approach aims to leverage indigenous firefighters' critical role in preserving local wisdom while adapting to climate change pressures.
Malariology
This narrative explores the dual challenges of malaria treatment and socioeconomic instability in Santa Elena de Uairén, Venezuela, a border town adjacent to Canaima National Park. The account highlights critical gaps in healthcare access, particularly the underdosing of quinine for malaria patients due to shortages, exacerbating public health risks. It also underscores the broader economic crisis in Venezuela, which has diverted resources and attention away from essential services like medicine distribution. The study provides a firsthand perspective on the intersection of medical and logistical failures, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable healthcare solutions in resource-limited settings.
Quantification of burnt areas as a fundamental parameter for the estimation of spatial and temporal patterns of fire incidence in Canaima National Park (Venezuela)
A significant increase of 64% in fire incidence was observed between the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 periods within Canaima National Park (CNP), Venezuela, with total burnt areas reaching 64,200 ha and 106,000 ha respectively. This surge coincided with one of the most severe El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) episodes, 'Godzilla,' during which extreme drought conditions led to 45,000 ha burning in January 2016 alone—accounting for 43% of the year's total fire damage. While grassy savannas were predominantly affected, forests also experienced heightened vulnerability under these extreme atmospheric conditions. The study, utilizing Landsat-8/OLI satellite data and QGIS analysis, provided the first high-confidence quantification of fire activity in CNP, offering critical insights for identifying vulnerable zones and developing targeted fire management strategies.
Transforming fire suppression into an intercultural and participative fire management policy in Canaima National Park, Venezuela. A learning together and Indigenous, academic and institutional knowledge integration process
A transformative shift in fire management policies within Canaima National Park, Venezuela, has been achieved through the integration of Indigenous Pemón knowledge with academic and institutional expertise. The study reveals that Indigenous practices, such as controlled burning for shifting cultivation and savanna-forest border management, are sophisticated strategies to mitigate catastrophic wildfires exacerbated by climate change. Over nearly 20 years, collaborative fire experiments involving Indigenous communities, firefighters, and scientists demonstrated that fire exclusion policies, while intended to protect ecosystems, paradoxically increase fuel accumulation, leading to larger, more destructive fires under current hotter and drier conditions. This research highlights the potential of intercultural collaboration in developing sustainable fire management strategies that balance ecological preservation with Indigenous livelihoods.
Linking well-being with cultural revitalization for greater cognitive justice in conservation: lessons from Venezuela in Canaima National Park
A shift toward intercultural fire management in Canaima National Park, Venezuela, has emerged from integrating Pemon indigenous knowledge with scientific research. This counter-narrative challenges conventional views that attribute landscape changes solely to local fire use. The study demonstrates how participatory processes—such as historical reconstructions, territorial self-demarcation, and community reflexivity—linked to the development of Pemon Life Plans, have revived suppressed environmental knowledge. By centering indigenous well-being agendas, conservation efforts have achieved cognitive justice, making hidden local knowledge visible and influencing policy-making toward more inclusive and effective fire management strategies.
New Records of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from Bolívar State in South Eastern Venezuela, with 27 New Species for the State and 5 of Them New in the Country
A groundbreaking study identifies 27 new mosquito species for Bolívar State, Venezuela, including five previously unknown to the country. Conducted across 16 localities in Canaima National Park and Gran Sabana Municipality, this research marks a significant contribution to mosquito ecology and biogeography in South Eastern Venezuela. The findings highlight the region's rich biodiversity while emphasizing the medical importance of these species. The study also provides a checklist of mosquito species reported in Gran Sabana County, offering valuable insights for future epidemiological studies.
Speaking of fire: reflexive governance in landscapes of social change and shifting local identities
Indigenous peoples in Canaima National Park, Venezuela, gain confidence to engage in dialogue with other actors when their marginalized environmental knowledge is publicly acknowledged within endogenous cultural processes. This finding emerges from three participatory research projects in the Gran Sabana region that facilitated dialogue among indigenous groups regarding their conflicting views of fire. The studies fostered community-wide critical reflections on cultural change and identity formations, suggesting a pathway to reflexive environmental governance in intercultural settings marked by conflict and rapid social transformation.
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