VENEZUELA: Oil Drilling Leads to Land Subsidence,
Increasing Vulnerability In Venezuela
In the first assessment ever made of the vulnerability of the
Venezuelan coast to accelerated sea level rise, the authors conclude
there is neither "cause for alarm nor complacency." Much of the
coast consists of unerodible cliffs and slopes, but in the deltas
and sedimental coastal plains, particularly the extensive Orinoco
delta, 5,000 km2 of land could be inundated. However, costs of
protection of the coast are comparatively low compared to some
of the other national studies.
An estimated 65 percent of the population lives in the coastal
states of the country; about 60,000 are considered at risk from
rising seas, Most of the inhabitants' activities are concerned
with oil extraction and processing, tourism and fishing. These
are vital elements of the economy, but they are intensively concentrated
on only 13 percent of the coastline. Because of the importance
of the nation's overseas trade, including oil export, upgrading
harbors and raising port facilities would consume a sizable proportion
of the cost of protection. Beach nourishment would amount to a
slightly smaller portion and would include terminal groins to
prevent the longshore losses of pumped sand. To date, Venezuela
has very limited experience with nourishing beaches.
Lake Maracaibo, the site of Venezuela's huge oil deposit, is
already suffering from serious subsidence because of the extraction
of oil, and global sea level rise would raise water levels in
the lake still higher. The strategic importance of the oil and
port sectors of the economy make any impact from sea level rise
unacceptable and responses to avoid damage or loss would be inevitable.
The existing pattern of development is highly vulnerable to erosion
in many places. "The first row of buildings in Litoral Central,
Lecheria, Puerto La Cruz, City of Cumana, Guira, and Porlamar
[along the central coast of the Carribbean Sea] are practically
built on the high-water mark," the authors state. All would experience
serious loss or require expensive protection. Venezuela has no
building setback requirements.
The time to increase awareness of coastal issues, to discuss
long-term uses and to enhance the quality and planning of future
development is now, the authors argue.
(Claudio R. Volonte, Canelones, Uruguay and University of
Maryland, USA, and Jose Arismendi, Instituto de Ingenieria,
Venezuela)
