Propuesta conceptual de creación de parque ecológico, recreativo y de hospedería Laguna Blanca del páramo de Mariño y de ABRAE en el municipio Tovar, estado Mérida, Venezuela.

Abstract

The socio-productive activities of the agriculture, livestock and tourist industries in rural settings in Venezuela have had a series of significant adverse impacts. This is particularly noticeable on the high mountain regions of the Andes that have experienced damages to the natural ecosystems and a loss of hereditary production and social practices and architectural concepts inherited to the region. The “Paramo de Marino” (Marino moorlands) is a palpable example of this. This is an area of exceptional natural beauty where valleys have generated small lakes and natural spaces that have stimulated touristic and recreational activities. Some examples of these are La Laguna Blanca and the Laguna Negra, (the White Lake and the Black Lake). In order to preserve and protect these spaces and their adjacent areas, we have used the environmental integrated design and the ecodesign approaches to propose the development of an ecological and recreational park including inns in this area. We also suggest that the area should be placed under a special administration regime (ABRAE: Area Bajo Regimen de Administracion Especial (ABRAE). Realising this project will bring together the people who live in the area, the civil society of the Tovar and Zea municipalities and the regional and national executives, all of which will guarantee the success of the project. Furthermore, the project will transcend further, as it will make possible the conservation of a natural habitat and promote the services it offers by using the income generated through the recreational activities and infrastructure which both ensure it sustainability.