Prevention practices help preserve rural properties and the Pantanal biome

With no rain and low soil and air humidity, rural producers need to establish immediate fire prevention and fighting measures

03.10.2024 | 16:40 (UTC -3)
Anna Palma
Photo: Disclosure
Photo: Disclosure

The high rate of fires in the Pantanal has caused significant damage to rural properties, the environment and the local economy. With low humidity and drier vegetation, rural producers must be alert and prepared to fight fires in order to preserve the Pantanal region through sustainable practices.

According to data from the National Institute of Meteorology, the forecast for the coming weeks indicates little rain and above-average temperatures, factors that create conditions conducive to the occurrence of fires.

In this scenario, the use of technologies by producers has proven essential for the continuity of livestock production in the biome. In addition, representative and government entities are providing investment funds and support programs to help recover areas affected by the fires.

In addition to financial aid for land restoration (FCO Pantanal and Renovagro), producers can seek training and formation of fire brigades through courses offered by Senar in Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), such as the Fire Prevention and Fighting in Rural Areas course, where they will learn, mainly, prevention practices and the use of basic equipment, such as fire extinguishers and backpack pumps. From 2019 to 2024, more than 2.500 people have already completed this training.

Practices such as automatic fire risk stations, fire risk maps on properties, firebreaks, prescribed and controlled burning, the Declaratory Act of Prevention against forest fires by the Fire Department, and other practices will be increasingly necessary for rural producers. Conservation Units and Indigenous Lands, which are federal areas, require more plans to control combustible material. This year alone, 34% of these areas were identified with hotspots.

Maintaining firebreaks around properties and vegetation areas is essential to prevent the spread of fires. Continuously monitoring the areas also helps to detect any signs of fire early.

Establishing and training volunteer brigades within rural properties to respond quickly in case of emergency and having a rapid communication plan to alert authorities and neighbors in case of sighting smoke or fire are other fundamental actions that producers can adopt in order to help preserve the Pantanal.

“The formation of brigades in rural areas, especially in the Pantanal, involves a joint effort by several entities, which combine their knowledge in prevention and combat, allowing people to work in each community thinking about cases of smaller fires”, points out Clovis Tolentino, technical consultant for the Famasul System.

The increase in satellite communication tools was a major innovation in the Pantanal, as it is a very remote region, without cell phone networks or electricity. Communication is essential to activate security forces in the event of fires, so that they can organize themselves strategically to fight them.

"Another highlight is the fire detection tools using satellite images. Today, it is possible to monitor the situation almost in real time through various platforms. This has allowed entities to optimize fire-fighting efforts, including the installation of 13 Fire Department bases in strategic locations in the Pantanal," adds the professional.

SENAR is carrying out an ongoing action at this time of environmental crisis, the Superação Pantanal. More than 20 professionals are in the Pantanal, visiting rural properties that suffered from forest fires this year, helping producers make decisions, providing guidance on the best training, and planning actions to combat fires in the coming years. The technical report that rural producers will have access to will be very useful in identifying the damage that occurred in 2024 on their properties.

Technical assistance actions

Through the Technical and Management Assistance of Senar/MS, approximately 10 thousand properties are being monitored throughout the state, disseminating, in addition to technical information, sustainability and prevention practices. In the Pantanal alone, the area most affected by fires this year, almost 115 thousand hectares are being monitored by technicians, where fire prevention concepts are being worked on intensively.

The partnership between Famasul and Reflore/MS is another area of ​​action that is gaining relevance, especially in the face of adverse weather conditions. These entities promote the training of volunteer brigades and develop awareness campaigns to prevent fires, which are essential to minimize the risks of uncontrolled fires.

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