Palmarito

Palmarito was a little town north of Maracay city (Aragua, Venezuela), located 400 or so meters above sea level. It was originally populated by a small group of cacao producers, mostly poor and humble but proud of living in what was (and still is in many ways) a pristine, unpolluted, quiet and beautiful place, at the base of the impressive Henri Pittier National Park.

(Foto) Tocuso Barranquero (Galbula ruficauda)

But the "oil sunami" that hit Venezuela at the turn of last century began to change things in a way that has clearly endangered Palmarito environment. The place still has a humid forest outlook, especially around the many small ravines created by ancient creeks that criss-cross the place. Being really a part of the Henri Pittier NP it shares with it the habitat of about 500 different species of birds (recognized by National Geographic as an excelent bird watching location) of about 1500 known species of Venezuelan birds.

As a consecuence of the oil boom, the native inhabitants began to move to the big cities, hoping to share the oil wealth. After a few decades of this migratory process (a national phenomena really), only a few of the original coffee and cacao farmers remain, and of those, none is involved in agriculture. It is now a rare sight to catch, here and there, a cacao tree or a coffee bush growing wild and unatended. The trade of the locals has now shifted to construction. Some (mostly descendants) have become adept rock cutters, a much favored material for the construction of fence walls and outside wall decoration. The business is good for some because lately many well to do families, seeking solitude and isolation, have discovered the peaceful and unpolluted environment of Palmarito. Therefore construction of houses is booming in the area. Of course land prices have now soared and the place has become one of the most expensive real estate areas in the country.

Unfortunately, the increasing popularity of the place has also brought unparalleled dangers to the local complex ecosystem and that of the neighboring Henri Pitier National Park. I will explore a few ideas as to how to slow down the decay or perhaps even to stop it altogether. Your comments and ideas are of course most welcome. One of the ideas is to publish all the pictures that I have managed to take of birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, plants and scenery during the last three years.

(All pictures posted in this and future entries of this blog, taken by RGalindoD unless otherwise stated)