IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF FOREST DEVEL OPMENT IN VENEZUELA

According to current Venezuelan legislation, each ''Forest Development and Management Plan'' povides for an ''Assessment of the impact on th e Environment'' in its methodology. However, when applied, this specif ic tool of evaluation Sails to account for such relevant effects as: m icroclimatic variations die to the clearing effect, loss of macro and micro-nutrients, negative impact on mycrorrhiza, change in land use, i mpact on pollinating animals and seed carriers, damages caused on rura l roads, negative accidents and possible water pollution caused by mac hinery maintenance and camp settling. Other effects are also insuficie ntly assesed and some control measures poorly designed. This is the ca se for: negative changes in the composition of vegetation, genetic ero sion, lower economic value of the Sorest, displacement and death of an imals, poor living standards of the workers and loss of biodiversity. The discuss how some of these factors affect goal completion in forest management (ongoing performance) and demonstrate the need for monitor ing some indicators that show the implementation of a ''sustainble man agement''.