PROJECT TITLE: UPDATING VENEZUELAN ANDEAN BEAR ACTION PLAN

PROJECT TITLE: UPDATING VENEZUELAN ANDEAN BEAR ACTION PLAN PETE OXFORD A REPORT SUBMITTED TO HOUSTON ZOO By Denis Alexander Torres Apdo. Postal 210, Mérida 5101-A, Estado Mérida, Venezuela www.andigena.org E-mail: info@andigena.org / fundacion_andigena@yahoo.com SEPTEMBER 2005

Updating Venezuelan Andean bear Action Plan 2 ABSTRACT The aim of this initiative was to re-evaluate the conservation status of the Andean bear in Venezuela and develop a strategy to target conservation actions and research on topics found highest importance for the species long-term survival within the country. Following 1994 Andean bear Action Plan and Andean bear Northern Andes Ecoregional Strategy guidelines, the workshop was held during July 2005 with key actors on Andean Bear conservation and research in Venezuela, using participatory techniques to generate an updated Venezuelan Action Plan and its corresponding development strategy, including a set of indicators to monitor its implementation. Information on new initiatives related to the species was compiled and both institutional and personal commitments were established within a logic time frame. Finally, a comprehensive proceedings will be edited and published for general consultation. INTRODUCTION Andean bear research and conservation efforts were promoted in situ by the pioneer work of Dr. Edgardo Mondolfi (1971) and Dr. Bernard Peyton (1980). During 1980, the Spectacled Bear Specialist Group (SBSG) warned about decreases on population numbers and the lack of knowledge on the species ecology. Across the Andean mountain range initial efforts towards the species conservation were focused on the description of distribution and habitat requirements, together with the evaluation of conservation status and identification of threats. In 1999 the IUCN/SSC Spectacled Bear Action Plan was compiled as part of the Global Bear Action Plan (Servheen, 1999) with specific country chapters describing the species local status, threats, management and conservation actions required, setting clear priorities for future actions. Venezuelan chapter was developed in 1994 by a group of experts supported by FUDENA and highlighted the need of activities to minimize poaching, ensure species viable populations in the wild, increase scientific knowledge and public awareness, and build capacity for managing the captive population. In a parallel process, environmentalist groups, governmental institutions, universities and nongovernmental organizations, among others, promoted the creation, amplification and interconnection of National Parks in the Andes, developed environmental education programs and ethno-zoological studies, and published a wide variety of information related to the species conservation for public distribution (Torres, 2000; Yerena & Torres, 1994; Yerena, 1999). Zoological parks across the world supported these initiatives creating the Spectacled bear Studbook, starting captive breeding programs and funding projects in the field. In Venezuela, the work of PROVITA and Foundation AndígenA, focused mainly on environmental education and developing material for public distribution, promoted Andean bear image from a totally unknown species to a conservation symbol within the country (Torres, 2000). In 1997 the governor of Mérida State decreed the Andean bear as one of the regional conservation symbols, and on 2000 the governor of Lara State created the Integrated Conservation Program for the Andean Bear (Villasmil, 2004). During the 15 th International Conference on Bear Research and Management held in San Diego, California, a meeting of the SSC/IUCN Bear Specialist Group highlighted the need to update the Spectacled Bear Action Plan, action already undertaken by Colombia. Ten years after the development of the Venezuelan Action Plan and a year later than the publication of the Northern Andes Ecoregional Strategy for Andean Bear Conservation by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (Rodríguez et al., 2004), it is a priority for experts working with the species across the country to update our regional guidelines, making a balance of the accomplishments and to generate an strategy oriented into the next 10 years. This information is needed by wildlife and conservation managers, protected areas agencies, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, regional governments, and ex situ species managers, zoological parks and education institutions. It will be used to asses the status of the Andean bear population within Venezuela, and to prioritize working areas and subjects to optimize efforts during the following ten years.

Updating Venezuelan Andean bear Action Plan 3 PROJECT OBJECTIVES General Objective Update the Venezuelan Andean bear Action Plan, with participation of all key actors to the species research, management and conservation. Specific Objectives Evaluation of activities undertaken on Andean bear research and conservation since 1994, and the effectiveness of the 1994 Action Plan. Development of the II Workshop Andean Bear Conservation Strategy for Venezuela Generate a 2004-2014 Venezuelan Andean bear Action Plan Publication of Venezuelan Andean bear Action Plan and Workshop Proceedings for public distribution Establishment of institutional and personal commitments, including the selection of a monitoring committee for follow up. WORKSHOP DEVELOPMENT / RESULTS Planning A coordinator committee was established to set the technical and logistics framework for the development of the meeting. Technical aspects were organized by Universidad Simón Bolívar, Fundación AndígenA, FUDENA, the Andean bear Network (Red Tremarctos) and the University of Cambridge (UK). Logistics coordination was conducted by FUDENA and the sponsorship was provided by the Houston Zoo Inc., WWF Canada, Lafarge and Fundación AndígenA. A series of meetings were carried out during 2005 once each two months prior of the workshop to follow the activities. Development of technical guidelines for the workshop, its content and participations were done by the technical team. Communication A series of electronic communications were sent by e-mail and a website was produced for the workshop promotion (http://oso.shroom.net/taller), distribution of material for previous review and collaborations request, starting from June 2005 and updated prior to the workshop date. Input information All relevant information on Andean bear was gathered prior to the workshop, in order to identify strengths, lacks and discordance points. Subjects for discussion were prepared and a pre-workshop document list was generated for participants review. Additionally tools for analysis during the workshop were selected as well as databases to facilitate discussion. Workshop A three (3) days workshop was held in Barquisimeto city on July 2005 with participation of specialists, governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations, all key actors to the species research, management and conservation (Fig. 1, Table 1). Five different sessions were held to produce a draft of the updated Action Plan. The first session started with a series of oral and written presentations from all participants, allowing discussion and exchange of experiences (Figs. 2).

Updating Venezuelan Andean bear Action Plan 4 Fig. 1. Headquarters of the Workshop Held at Barquisimeto City, Lara State, Venezuela. Table 1. List of Participants During the Workshop. Name Institution Ada Sánchez IVIC - Comité Organizador Alexander Blanco FUNPZA Alexis Zambrano Zoológico "Los Chorros de Milla" Amilcar Bencomo INPARQUES - Trujillo Andrés Eloy Bracho Red Tremarctos - Comité Organizador Atilio Gainza Comunidad Cerro Negro Carlos Maldonado INPARQUES - Táchira Carlos Márquez INPARQUES - Portuguesa Denis Torres Fundación AndígenA - Comité Organizador Edgar Yerena Universidad Simón Bolívar - Comité Organizador Elio Dellan Rodríguez Guardería Ambiental de la Guardia Nacional Ezequiel Hidalgo Zoológico "Gustavo Rivera" Freddy Lovera EcoBambú Héctor Meleán Universidad del Zulia Homero Zambrano EcoVida Imarú Lameda Universidad Yacambú Isis Gómez FUDENA José Antonio Censial INPARQUES - Zulia José Cambero Grupo Guardaparques Universitarios Karen Sonni Universidad Nacional Experimental de los Llanos "Ezequiel Zamora" Kathryn Rodríguez-Clark IVIC Luís German Naranjo WWF Colombia Marcial Quiroga Instituto Pedagógico Milagro Montes Zoológico "Gustavo Rivera" Miyel Rodríguez FUDENA Morela Villasmil Zoológico Bararida Naivelyn Alvarado Universidad del Zulia Pastor Díaz Cooperativa Matatere Robert Marquez WCS Rolwin Abreu Universidad del Zulia Shaenandhoa García Universidad de Cambridge Tulio Gutiérrez MARN-Lara Zoyla Martínez FUDENA

Figs 2. Oral Presentations of the Participants. Updating Venezuelan Andean bear Action Plan 5

Updating Venezuelan Andean bear Action Plan 6 The second session was focused on the evaluation of the implementation of the 1994 Action Plan, where achievements and drawbacks were addressed. The third session was addressed the Ecoregional Strategy to set the framework for the updated Action Plan. The fourth session was focused on small working groups, according to participant expertise, that helped by

Updating Venezuelan Andean bear Action Plan 7 brainstorming techniques will address specific subjects on Andean bear status and conservation issues. Finally, a fifth session was carried out to integrate the results of different working groups in a unique and comprehensive draft of the updated Action Plan. A list of commitments with appropriate time framework was developed in relation to the priorities highlighted, and a monitoring committee was designated by all participants, to make a continuous evaluation and promote plan implementation (Figs 3.). Figs. 3. A Series of Participatory Sessions were Attended During the Workshop.

Updating Venezuelan Andean bear Action Plan 8 Follow up After the workshop was completed an editorial committee, integrated by the coordinator committee and representatives of the workshop s working groups, will be responsible for writing the final version of the Action Plan, integrating comments of organizations and relevant people who could not attend the workshop. This committee will be responsible for the final product of the Project: the proceedings and the Action Plan, in both paper and electronic versions. The coordination committee will be also responsible for distributing copies of the final document, to institutions, organizations and personalities. Outputs Updated version of the Andean bear Venezuelan Action Plan. Andean bear reference list for Venezuela (see attached file: biblio_oso_andino_vzla.pdf ). Updated Venezuelan habitat distribution map for the species (Fig. 4). Database on Andean bear presence in the country. Workshop proceedings, including above outputs, in-extenso presentations by participants and discussion briefings, all in electronic and printed versions. Fig. 4. A Potential Map on Andean Bear Habitat was built using a Series of Landsat-TM Satellite Imageries.

Updating Venezuelan Andean bear Action Plan 9 FINANCIAL REPORT The following budget covers the workshop expenses attended with the valuable support provided by Houston Zoo Inc. All amounts are in US dollars. Personal Services and Wages Fees for the Workshop Proceedings Editors (three people - 250 each x 3)....750 (100 *) General Coordinator of the Workshop.... 200(*) Logistic assistants during the workshop (two people)...200(*) Supplies and Operating Expenses (WORKSHOP): Item Unitary Value Quantity Subtotal Plastic bag 0.5 20 25 Plastic tape of packing 1 10 5 Map 10 20 20 Cartridges for printer Hewlet Packard 25 8 200 Markers for acetate 1 20 20 Sheets of acetate 0.5 40 20 Pencil 0.5 40 20 Colors Pencil 0.5 20 10 Pen 0.5 40 20 Notebook 2 40 80 Diskettes 0.5 20 10 CD s 0.8 50 40 Audio Tape 1 15 15 Paper Ream 4 4 16 501(*) Printed Materials Item Unitary Value Quantity Subtotal Proceedings 2.50 1,000 2,500(1,000**) CD Multimedia 2 100 200 (*) Promotional Folder to be distributed to the Workshop Participants 2 100 200 (**) Sub-total 5 2,900 Hosting, domain and maintenance of the Website....600(*) TOTAL: 3,000 ** This amount is currently in use of the editorial committee coordinated by FUDENA

Updating Venezuelan Andean bear Action Plan 10 LITERATURE CITED Mondolfi, E. 1971. El oso frontino (Tremarctos ornatus). Defensa de la Naturaleza, 1(2): 31-35. Peyton, B. 1980. Ecology, distribution, and food habits of spectacled bears, (Tremarctos ornatus), in Peru. Journal of Mammalogy, 61(4): 639-652. Rodríguez, D., Cuesta, F., Goldstein, I., Bracho, A. E., Naranjo, L. G., & O. L. Hernández. 2003. Estrategia Ecorregional para la Conservación del Oso Andino (Tremarctos ornatus) en Los Andes del Norte. WWF Colombia, Fundación Wii, EcoCiencia, Wildlife Conservation Society WCS. 72 pp. Servheen, C., S. Herrero & B. Peyton (compilers). 1999. Bears, Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Bear and Polar Bear Specialist Groups. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. 309 pp. Torres, D. 2000. El oso frontino viene a la escuela: un modelo para la educación ambiental en los Andes Venezolanos. Pp: 42-54, in: Páramos y Bosques de Niebla. Memorias de la IV Conferencia Latinoamericana de Páramos y Bosques Altoandinos. Málaga, Santander, Colombia. Noviembre 1999. CENSAT Agua Viva, Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia. 196 pp. Villasmil, M. 2004. [Abstract] Integral program for the conservation of the Andean bear in the Lara state (programa integral de conservación del oso frontino en el estado Lara). Pp: 25, in: Abstracts Book, Fifteenth International Conference on Bear Research and Management, San Diego, California. USA. 71 pp. Yerena, E. (coordinator). 1999. Status and management of the spectacled bear in Venezuela. Pp: 193-198, in: Servheen, C., S. Herrero & B. Peyton (compilers). Bears, Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Bear and Polar Bear Specialist Groups. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. 309 pp. Yerena, E. & D. Torres. 1994. Spectacled bear conservation and dispersal corridors in Venezuela. Int. Conf. Bear Res. and Manage., 9(1): 169-172.