The Minister of People’s Power for Ecosocialism, Josué Lorca, highlighted on Monday the actions taken by the Venezuelan Government to comply with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
In his statement at the High-level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought, held via video conference, Minister Lorca stressed the need of changing the capitalist economic model as the fifth part of the Earth’s lands has been degraded so far, “affecting 3.2 billion people in the world,” jeopardizing food security, biological diversity and intensifying climate change.
Lorca underlined that despite de effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States, Venezuela has promoted the achievement of Land Degradation Neutrality.
In this regard, the Venezuelan minister explained that these actions are guided by the 2019-2025 socialist plan for economic, social development, and are part of the public policies implemented by the Venezuelan Government.
Likewise, he said another step to avoid desertification has been the National Reforestation Plan, which has been strengthened by the creation of 135 nurseries and the production of around 5 million forest, fruit, ornamental and medicinal plants.
Regarding the legal progress in the environmental area, the Venezuelan minister highlighted the draft Law on Soils, whose aim is to establish guidelines and strategies for the conservation, protection and improvement of these resources. Also, he highlighted the strengthening of Areas under Protection.
The Venezuelan representative stressed the importance of urban and peri-urban agriculture, and highlighted the creation of sowing calendars by the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (INAMEH) in order to minimize the risks for agricultural production and ensure an appropriate management of water and supplies.
Lorca also highlighted the installation of State and National Unified Units against Fires, and explained they have adopted an approach to comprehensively manage fire in their operations.
Finally, the Venezuelan Ecosocialism minister shared information on the creation of graduate and postgraduate agroecology programs, and reaffirmed Venezuela’s commitment to ecosocialism as an axiological value of environmental management.