Protected areas of Guatemala lost more than 55 thousand hectares due to fires in 2020

Story by: Jorge Rodriguez Photography by: Jorge Rodriguez Translated by: Carlos Duarte mié 13, Ene 2021

The Guatemalan System of Protected Areas (SIGAP), reported that during the 2019/20 fire season, the loss of forest cover was 55,822 hectares (ha) of forest and non-forest coverage, which represents 71.45% of the total affected area in all the country. Outside of protected areas, 22,305 ha of forest and non-forest cover were affected, representing 28.55% of the total affected area, this according to a report presented by the National Institute of Forests (INAB).

Another impressive fact is that up to 62% of these fires (866) were started. Although it is not officially recognized, the authorities assume that the illegal appropriation of land, in order to have more pastures for cattle raising, drug trafficking and intensive agriculture may be the most likely causes of these fires. In addition to this, it cannot be ignored that 19% of fires also occur due to poorly executed agricultural burns, which get out of control and affect important forested areas.

Less fires, more loss

Despite having fewer fires than the previous season, more hectares of forest were consumed during 2019/20, mainly within protected areas. Photo: Carlos Duarte/Viatori

With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the world marveled at the supposed increase in wildlife in areas where it is not common to see them. It was erroneously thought that the pandemic would lead humanity to live a life more in harmony with nature, but nothing could be further from reality.

In Guatemala, although the number of fires decreased by 2% (from 1,417 in 2018/19 to 1,398 in 2019/20), the number of affected hectares increased by 40% (from 47,523 ha to 78,129 ha). But not only that, the number of arsons increased from 55% in the previous season to 62% reported for 2020.

Despite these numbers, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) of Guatemala mentioned that since 2018, the country’s forest coverage has expanded by 1,320 ha, through reforestation programs that work with departmental delegations.

According to José Ricardo Gálvez, head of the Department of Concentration and Decentralization of Environmental Management of MARN, at the end of 2020 the process of planting 550 thousand trees began on 495 thousand hectares throughout the country, whose planting would begin during the second semester 2021. “Reforestation is not an improvised process, since the MARN requests a management plan, geopositioning and a monitoring mechanism, so that the planting areas are water recharge,” said the official.

×