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Presently, in the semiarid zone of Venezuela, 22% of the population centers contain more than 1,000 inhabitants. This situation indicates a high population pressure that may have a significant impact because of the fragility of the surrounding ecosystems, which are characterized by slow recovery after a disturbance (García et al., 1990). In particular, Loma El León is located very close to Barquisimeto (Municipality of Iribarren), the capital of Lara State and the fourth most populated city in Venezuela. With nearly 900,000 inhabitants, Barquisimeto has experienced a population growth rate of 2.4% in recent years (INE, 2001). This growth suggests that a strong demographic pressure will be placed on the monument in areas of urban expansion.
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