Reduction of Forest Fires in the Araras Biological Reserve, Rio de Janeiro, Southeast Brazil

Abstract

Forest fires represent one of the greatest threats to Protected Area (PA) and to all the biodiversity contained in these areas. Considering that the Atlantic Forest biome is extremely reduced, impacts that result in the loss of habitat and species must be prevented and combated efficiently. The present goal of this study was to outline the profile of the wild forest fire prevention and firefighting actions undertaken in the Araras Biological Reserve (RBA) during the 2014 - 2018 period. The Araras Biological Reserve is a Protected Area (PA) in the State of Rio de Janeiro, located in the municipalities of Petropolis and Miguel Pereira, sheltering a remaining and well-preserved vegetation of native Atlantic Forest. After several visits to the RBA to collect data and for field research, the actions/operations were identified and then classified as Educational and Monitoring. Those actions listed as Educational carry information about the importance and danger risks being taken in the presence of fire by the permanent or transient population of both the Buffer Zone area and the neighboring PAs', to be observed along an entire year period, and are meant to reach the areas' highest possible number of persons and properties. About the Monitoring actions, some demand further attention regarding their execution form, registration and periodicity from both the PA's team and managers. During the period under analysis, a decrease has been verified in the number of wild forest fire incidents, suggesting a possible efficiency of both actions and methods adopted the RBA neighboring population. The results demonstrate that those actions referring to the Forest Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting Program contribute to the integral protection of this Protected Area Unit.