The territorial zoning system of Venezuela is based on a diverse set of categories called "Areas under Special Administration Regime" (ABRAE), which include protected areas. We discuss first how the Venezuelan government has requested to add a group of ABRAE as protected areas to the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), even though the main objectives of Venezuelan ABRAE are not aimed at protecting biodiversity. Second, we identify the weaknesses of the Venezuelan state in fulfilling the function of protecting biodiversity in territorial spaces as envisaged in the Convention on Biological Diversity, and particularly in Aichi target 11. Finally, we address the scant attention of the government of Venezuela to issues related to the governance of protected and conserved areas, and we specifically address Key Biodiversity Areas, and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures .