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TECHNICAL ARTICLE SERIES
Management Plan for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Podocnemis
erythrocephala (Chipiro), Podocnemis unifilis (Terecay), Podocnemis expansa
(Arrau) and Peltocephalus dumerilianus (Cabezón)
Authors: Carliz Díaz 1 and Edis Solórzano
Abstract: Development of a management plan for the conservation and sustainable use of the species
Podocnemis erythrocephala (Chipiro), Podocnemis unifilis (Terecay), Podocnemis expansa (Arrau) and
Peltocephalus dumerilianus (Cabezón), through institutional strengthening and updating of information
on the status and population dynamics and the design of strategies for their conservation and
sustainable use, as a way to conserve and maintain wild populations, reduce negative anthropogenic
pressure on them and provide productive alternatives to improve the living conditions of local and
indigenous communities in Venezuela.
Key-words: Podocnemis expansa, Podocnemis unifilis, Podocnemis unifilis, Peltocephalus dumerilianus,
management plan, Venezuela.
1
Directora General de Diversidad Biológica. Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ecosocialismo (MINEC).
Freshwater turtles are among the most The techniques used in the
endangered vertebrate groups in the aforementioned Program are perfectly
world because they suffer intense applicable to achieve the successful
pressure from humans (Moll & Moll, realization of the sustainable use of
2004). Their populations are being these species, varying only in their final
diminished by unsustainable objective, that is, replacing the objective
exploitation and habitat destruction. On of preservation (in many cases wrongly
the other hand, the growing demand for called conservation), with that of
their eggs and meat, together with sustainable use. These techniques
widespread traditional medicine include the protection of nesting areas,
practices, are critical factors that have the transplantation of clutches, the
brought many turtle populations to the collection and rearing of hatchlings, the
brink of extinction (Turtle Taxonomy recording of biological statistics, the
Working Group, 2017). evaluation of reproductive patterns, the
release in areas of their natural
In Venezuela, as in other areas of
distribution of specimens reared for a
distribution of the arrau (Podocnemis
year and the incorporation of local
expansa), terecay (Podocnemis unifilis),
communities in the execution of all the
Chipiro (Podocnemis unifilis) and
actions developed.
cabezon (Peltocephalus dumerilianus)
turtles, their eggs and meat are On the other hand, in order to support
exploited, mainly for human national policies and with the objective
consumption in rural areas. of achieving the conservation of
freshwater turtles, MINEC is currently
Some of these species have been used
promoting the implementation of the
in zoo-breeding activities for the
project: Development of a management
reinforcement of wild populations or for
plan for the conservation and
commercial purposes, within the
sustainable use of the species
framework of conservation and
Podocnemis erythrocephala (Chipiro),
sustainable use programs developed in
Podocnemis unifilis (Terecay),
the country. These activities are part of
Podocnemis expansa (Arrau) and
the conservation plans that have been
Peltocephalus dumerilianus (Cabezón),
carried out for more than 30 years in
through institutional strengthening and
several areas of the country, within the
the updating of information on the status
framework of the National Program for
and population dynamics and the
the Conservation of Continental
design of strategies for their
Chelonians developed by the Ministry of
conservation and sustainable use, as a
Popular Power for Ecosocialism
way to conserve and maintain wild
(MINEC), with financing from the
populations, reduce negative
government of the Bolivarian Republic
anthropogenic pressure on them and
of Venezuela, which has allowed us to
provide productive alternatives to
have a wide experience in the
improve the living conditions of local
management of this group of animals
and indigenous communities; This
(Marín, 2006; Marín, Babarro and
project is financed by the German
Dávila 2007; Marín and Solórzano,
Development Bank (KfW), implemented
2012).
under the institutional tutelage of ACTO,
through a financial cooperation Convention on International Trade in
agreement between Germany and the Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Permanent Secretariat of ACTO Flora (CITES), so that CITES will
(PS/ACTO) through KfW. ensure that international trade does not
threaten the survival of the populations
This management plan will make it
involved.
possible to have the technical-legal
norms that will regulate the commercial The plan is based on criteria of legality,
harvesting of the aforementioned that is to say, it is guaranteed that the
species in the country, since the specimens have been obtained in
commercial harvesting of wild fauna in accordance with national laws and
Venezuela is carried out under the regulations for the protection of wild
modality of management plans, whose fauna; and under criteria of
content and terms of reference are sustainability and traceability, in order to
established by the National have basic information, as well as
Environmental Authority, according to strategies to verify that the trade of the
the provisions of the Regulations of the species is carried out in a sustainable
Law for the Protection of Wild Fauna manner and is not detrimental to the
(Republic of Venezuela, 1970; maintenance of their wild populations,
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and also that it can be traced through
1999). These plans are promulgated the issuance and control of the
through ministerial "Resolutions" that respective CITES permits.
establish the administrative and
With the implementation of this
technical measures for managing the
management plan, it is expected that
resource, as well as the norms to be
there will be greater empowerment and
applied for controlling activities during
appreciation of the local and indigenous
their implementation.
communities for the target species,
The implementation of this plan, in which will have a positive impact on the
addition to promoting legal domestic conservation of their wild populations
trade, will make it possible to promote and the promotion of productive
international trade in these species, activities that will improve their
which are included in Appendix II of the livelihoods.Arrau tortoise specimens. Photograph by Edis Solórzano
Release of Arrau and Terecay tortoises, at the Arrau Tortoise Wildlife Refuge. Photo: Edis Solórzano.
BIBLIOGRAPHY Brazo Casiquiare por comunidades
locales. MINAMB. Caracas. 12 p.
Moll,D. & E.O. Moll. 2004. The ecology,
(Mimeografiado).
exploitation, and conservation of river
turtles. Oxford University Press.393 p. Marín, E., R. Babarro y G. Dávila. 2007.
Algunos aspectos de la biología
Marín, E. 2006. Bases para el manejo
reproductiva de Podocnemis expansa,
de las poblaciones de quelonios del
en el Refugio de Fauna Silvestre de laTortuga Arrau, estados Apure y Bolívar. Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy,
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Contribución al conocimiento de la Comercio Internacional de Especies
biología reproductiva del chipiro, Amenazadas de Fauna y Flora
Podocnemis erythrocephala (Spix, Silvestres. Gaceta Oficial No. 2.053
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Published in the Bioamazon Bulletin, issue n. 10, July-August 2021.
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