Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Venezuela is located in Northern South American. The country borders the Caribbean Sea to the north, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Federal Republic of Brazil to the south, and the Republic of Colombia to the west.
Venezuela has a hot and humid tropical climate which is more moderate in the highlands. The Andes Mountains and the Maracaibo Lowlands are located in the northwest and the Guiana Highlands are located in the southeast. The center of Venezuela is characterized by the llanos, extensive grassy plains which stretch from the border of Colombia in the west, to the Orinoco River delta in the east. Forests occupy approximately 54 percent of Venezuela’s territory. The states of Falcón and Lara, located in north-western Venezuela, contain the largest areas of arid and semi-arid conditions in the country. Here, total annual rainfall ranges between 350 and 700 millimeters, with an overall annual average rainfall of 515 millimeters.
Venezuela is highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for approximately 30 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The agricultural sector in Venezuela generates approximately 5 percent of GDP and contributes 40 percent to internal demand for agricultural products. Most of Venezuela’s agricultural production is concentrated in arid and semi-arid areas. As such, the agriculture sector is vulnerable to variations in climatic conditions. Venezuela is located in Northern South American. The country borders the Caribbean Sea to the north, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Federal Republic of Brazil to the south, and the Republic of Colombia to the west.
Venezuela has a hot and humid tropical climate which is more moderate in the highlands. The Andes Mountains and the Maracaibo Lowlands are located in the northwest and the Guiana Highlands are located in the southeast. The center of Venezuela is characterized by the llanos, extensive grassy plains which stretch from the border of Colombia in the west, to the Orinoco River delta in the east. Forests occupy approximately 54 percent of Venezuela’s territory. The states of Falcón and Lara, located in north-western Venezuela, contain the largest areas of arid and semi-arid conditions in the country. Here, total annual rainfall ranges between 350 and 700 millimeters, with an overall annual average rainfall of 515 millimeters.
Venezuela is highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for approximately 30 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The agricultural sector in Venezuela generates approximately 5 percent of GDP and contributes 40 percent to internal demand for agricultural products. Most of Venezuela’s agricultural production is concentrated in arid and semi-arid areas. As such, the agriculture sector is vulnerable to variations in climatic conditions.
Source: Global Environment Facility Project for Venezuela: Promotion of sustainable and climate-compatible rural development in Lara and Falcon States. Project Identification Form, 8 April 2009.
Like most countries in Latin America, Venezuela has submitted one national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with a second one under preparation. Land use change and forestry are the largest contributors to GHG emissions in the country. The emission reduction potential is large and there are several reforestation programs have been initiated. Venezuela is among the few countries in Latin America without a single CDM project, and carbon trading opportunities can be explored. Agriculture is highly vulnerable to weather extremes. A greater emphasis on developing and applying adaptation and mitigation programs, as well as adequate insurance mechanisms can be placed for better management of public resources in light of natural disasters in the agriculture sector.
The First National Communication identified several possible adaptation measures necessary to be introduced in the future, ranging from an integrated management of watersheds and creation of a “water policy” to development of crop varieties resistant to extreme weather conditions such as drought or high temperatures and development of early warning and prevention systems.
Source: World Bank Country Notes on Climate Change Aspects in Agriculture. Accessed on: 24 May 2010 at http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/0,,contentMDK:22077094~pagePK:146736~piPK:146830~theSitePK:258554,00.html
For additional information and for the complete Venezuela - Country Note on Climate Change Aspects in Agriculture refer to the World Bank Country Notes.
The Country Notes are a useful tool for organizing in a systematic way the available information on climate change and agriculture in each country. They provide a brief summary of information pertinent to both climate change and agriculture in 19 countries in LAC, with focus on policy developments (action plans and programs), institutional make-up, specific adaptation and mitigation strategies, as well as social aspects and insurance mechanisms to address risk in the sector.