AVALIATION OF FOREST FIRE OCCURRENCE IN THE SERRA DA CANASTRA NATIONAL PARK - MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

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Simone Rodrigues de Magalhães
Gumercindo Souza Lima
Guido Assunção Ribeiro

Abstract

This study characterized the forest fi res in the Serra da Canastra National Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The data basis were the records of fi re occurrence in 1988-2008 period. The results showed that 219 fi res were recorded, burning 415,572.50 ha. In the average, 10.43 fi res occurred per year, resulting in 19,789.17 ha burned. Incendiaries caused largest fi res regarding the affected area, followed by fi res caused by debris burning and lighting, that is fi rst in number of occurrences. Fires caused by incendiaries and the unknown causes were more frequent in August and September. Fires caused by lightings occurred mainly in October and February, and those associated to debris burning were concentrated in the month of July. The largest fi res occurred in areas with steep slopes, while the fi res smaller than 4.0 ha, occurred in fl at or smooth areas. Most of fi res that occurred during the study period burned up to 200.000 ha and the larger fi res occurred in the park region where the IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e do Desenvolvimento Sustentável) already has the ownership or land control. These fi res were possibly caused by incendiaries.

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