Baruta residents denounce alleged ecocide at Cerro El Volcán over motocross track construction

Residents in Baruta, Venezuela, are raising alarms over what they call an "ecocide" unfolding in the protected Cerro El Volcán. Construction work, including earthmoving and tree felling for motocross tracks and equestrian facilities, has intensified since late May, despite ongoing complaints to authorities. The heavy machinery is reportedly causing significant soil erosion and deforestation, while also blocking access routes used by hikers and locals.

According to residents of the Granjerías La Trinidad urbanization, the project is encroaching on a protected zone, violating regulations that prohibit activities altering the environmental balance of the mountain. This area is considered one of the most important plant reservoirs in the metropolitan region of Caracas. Some residents expressed fear of speaking out publicly due to the perceived power and influence of those behind the project.

While engineer Luis Fernando López Tarre is publicly linked to the project, sources suggest the true executors are "Team Furia," a sports investment firm allegedly connected to the sons of Cilia Flores, wife of former President Nicolás Maduro. Environmental organizations, like La Tierra se Calienta, have also voiced concerns, noting that Cerro El Volcán has been under environmental protection since 1980. They warn that the construction could lead to soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and increased erosion.

Despite appeals to national and municipal bodies, as well as security forces, residents and environmental groups claim they have received no concrete responses. They are demanding an immediate cessation of the work to preserve this natural space, crucial for the climate regulation and environmental conservation of the Baruta municipality.

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The neighborhood feels a lot of fear towards these people and that is why they avoid publicly denouncing the situation. They are people with power and influence.