The stage of greatest occurrence of forest fires, which covers the months from January to May, concluded in this territory with a considerable decrease compared to previous periods, both in the number of incidents that occurred and in the effects.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Selenys Batista Rodríguez, head of the Fire Management Group in the province, said that these achievements were obtained because of the organizational level reached by the provincial operative group and the increase in actions for prevention and response, which allowed 87 percent of the fires that emerged to be controlled before the five hectares.
"There were only eight claims, four less than during 2020. The same happened with the number of damaged hectares; since 69.35 were previously damaged, 16.85 correspond to the current period, causing a total economic loss of 23,168 pesos in national currency,” the specialist of the Ranger Corps (CGB) notified.
Faced with such a scenario, she clarified, the causes that propitiate these disastrous events are reiterative. "They continue to be associated, mainly, with negligence, irresponsible smoking, and burning for various purposes."
The latter, he added, "are used in cleaning areas infected with marabou and the preparation of land without the corresponding authorization, or in breach of the respective provisions, which implies the spread of flames that can reach large proportions," Batista Rodríguez confirmed.
“During this period, she said, it is necessary to increase all specialized technical measures such as fire-break trails, mineralized lines, and burned strips, which are those that are generally carried out by forest tenants. Likewise, we must reinforce the work in the municipalities of Manatí, Puerto Padre, and Las Tunas, the most affected territories in the previous calendar by these dire events.”
The Ranger Corps is the entity authorized to issue the permit to use fire in a forest area or its vicinity. In light of this, “all who need to burn within its perimeter, and up to the next 200 meters, can contact any authority of this body and with the corresponding approval they will be issued a group of measures that prevents controlled burning from being turn into a fire,” she said.
Forests are an important ecosystem, not only relevant in the global carbon cycle. They are the collective home of many precious and rare animals, guarantee goods and services for human and economic activity; they are also regulators of the water cycle, protectors and soil improvers, and 40 percent of the world's atmospheric oxygen comes from their vegetation.
However, fires, the number one enemy of their vitality and human health, continue to occur and the causes bear the stamp of indiscipline. A change of attitude is urgently needed to guarantee the proper protection of forested areas.
The post-fire recovery strategy also plays a decisive role. Reforestation campaigns and limitations for the movement of personnel and vehicles within forests or neighboring areas are some examples that should be expanded.
