Alfred Zinck: Bachelor in Geography and Master in Edaphology and Geomorphology, University of Strasbourg, France. Doctorate in Regional Planning, University of Bordeaux, France. Postdoc Soil Science Dept. University of California Berkeley, USA. Emeritus Prof., Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.Otto Huber: Bachelor in Biology (1969) Università degli Studi di Roma, Roma (Italy). Doctor degree in Botany and Geography, Leopold-Franzens- Universität, Innsbruck (Austria) 1976. Specialist in neotropical floristics and phytogeography, (the Guayana region, the Orinoco savannas, and the cloud forest of the coastal range in Venezuela). Ecologist of Ministry for the Environment (MARNR-CODESUR), Amazonas state (1977-1983). Scientific consultant (CVG - EDELCA) and (MARNR) for ecology, and environmental impact (1986-1992)(Venezuela). Coordinator, Deutsche Gesellschaft fu¨r Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)/Germany (1992-1994) (project: Amazonian Center for Environmental Research (CAIAH), Amazonas state, Venezuela). Pedro García Montero: Ing. Agr. Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) 1975. Master of Science (Soil Science), University of Florida, USA (1984).Long-term staff member of the governmental electric power company (CVG – EDELCA, Venezuela) and Ministry of the Environment (MARNR). Professor of Soil Science at the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV). Environmental Consultant. Member of the Orinoco Group.Ernesto Medina: Bachelor in Biology (1961), Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV). Doktor Acker, Universität Hohenheim, Germany (1964). Postdoc. Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, USA (1970). Emeritus Researcher, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC). Adjunct Scientist of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry (USDA), Puerto Rico.