Cuare Wildlife Refuge: Biodiversity Hotspot in Falcon State
Cuare Wildlife Refuge
Location: The Cuare Wildlife Refuge is located on the east coast of Falcon state, in the municipalities Monsignor Iturriza, Acosta and Silva, adjacent to the Morrocoy National Park in the Golfo Triste platform. Access is via the road leading to the town of Chichiriviche.
Size: Covers an area of 11,853 ha.
Creation: This refuge was created on 31 May 1972 by Decree 991, published in Official Gazette No. 29,820 of the 02nd of June 1972. In November 1988, it joined the list of Wetlands of International Importance of the Ramsar Convention.
Importance of Cuare
Cuare is a vibrant ecosystem, home to a significant number of migratory and resident birds throughout the year. It has recorded 70% of all bird species in the country. Moreover, this protected area is a recovery zone for endangered species such as the American crocodile, the green turtle, and the hawksbill turtle. The mangroves also support the growth of mangrove oysters, a valuable resource for local residents.
Cuare is situated in the floodplain of the Tocuyo River and receives water from the Sanare River and intermittent streams originating in the Chichiriviche Hill to the south. The most important of these are Dieguito Cano, followed by San Pedrico pipes, Boca, Boca San Juanico, and Baron.
Like other coastal plains with large river discharges, the area has poor drainage due to its low slope. This results in areas with a flood regime that depends on rainfall patterns and tides.
The area experiences two distinct climatic periods: dry and rainy, with two annual peaks during the rainy season. The increased water supply from rivers during the rainy season floods the ponds, maintaining a highly productive system from June to January.
Golfete Cuare
Golfete Cuare, which gives the Refuge its name, is a 1,982-hectare coastal bay along the northern slope of Cerro de Chichiriviche. It is a permanent body of water directly connected to the sea by a 560-meter wide mouth. This connection maintains high stability in its physicochemical conditions, except for periodic salinity changes due to freshwater input from intermittent streams, the Sanare River, and the creeks of Cerro Chichiriviche, Dieguito, and El Estero. The Golfete has an average depth of 2 meters and is lined with mangrove forests, numerous canals, and caves.
Mangroves provide habitats for shelter, food, reproduction, and development for numerous species of invertebrates and fish, many of which are of fishing interest. Notable bird species include flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) and scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber), which use the marshes and some keys. Many species of herons and migratory birds also use the area as temporary rest stops and seasonal feeding grounds. The area is also used by endangered species such as the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and several sea turtles (Rodriguez and Rojas-Suarez, 1999).