Multidisciplinary team completed environmental health study in San Esteban National Park in Carabobo

Published at: 17/03/2026 03:44 PM

A multidisciplinary team led by personnel from the Ministry of Popular Power for Ecosocialism (Minec), completed the sampling of the Environmental Baseline Study in the San Esteban National Park, located in the state of Carabobo, in the central-north region of Venezuela.

The protected area, which is part of the ecological system associated with Henri Pittier National Park, was evaluated in the Alcatraz Island sector, where seven species groups were analyzed.

The Deputy Minister for the Preservation of Life and Biodiversity, of the Ministry of Popular Power for Ecosocialism, José Pereira, reported that these studies are part of the evaluation and monitoring of marine-coastal ecosystems.

He stressed that these surveys constitute a tool for ecosystem management, allowing the identification of base conditions, threats and conservation priorities in a territory of high environmental sensitivity.

In the case of seagrasses, there was evidence of an ecologically altered meadow, dominated by the invasive species Halophila stipulacea, which has displaced the native phanerogamous Thalassia testudinum. Despite this, associated fauna such as sponges and fish persists, according to the MINEC press.

Pereira indicated that the reef presented a significant diversity of mollusks, with different life strategies - shelter and drilling - and potential for more detailed studies in groups such as Spondilidae. The presence of the invasive mollusk Naria turdus was also confirmed.

He explained that infaunal crustaceans of the genera Neocallichirus, Upogebia and Pinnixa were recorded, found in burrows occupied exclusively by individuals of the same species. A high abundance of Neocallichirus was observed at the mouth of the lagoon, while in areas with red mangroves and the presence of Halophila stipulacea, the density decreased dramatically.

The evaluated sector constitutes the area of the San Esteban National Park with the best state of conservation, characterized by large coral colonies and good structural integrity.

As for the fish community, it showed good health and high diversity, with the presence of species of fishing interest and top predators such as the green conger. The sighting of the rare blue parrot was recorded.

The study identified a high density of lionfish, considered a critical threat requiring control measures.

The terrestrial vegetation of the island is in a favorable state of conservation, with a defined zonation that includes a Sporobolus virginicus grassland and a hypersaline basin dominated by Sesuvium portulacastrum.

Technical teams from the National Park Institute (Inparks), the Institute of Zoology and Tropical Ecology of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV IZET), the Coastal Marine Biology Laboratory of the University of Carabobo (UC‑BIOMAC), UGP‑EEI, the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC) and the MINEC participated in the study process.

Mazo News Team