Identificação de áreas críticas a ocorrência de fogo na área de endemismo Belém

Abstract

Fire represents a significant portion of the damage caused to forest ecosystems in regions subject to human pressure. This study aimed to investigate the spatial and temporal dimensions of fire action in the Belém Area of ​​Endemism over the past 20 years and to assess the potential vulnerability of the remaining forests in this territory, due to the fact that it belongs to an ancient pioneer occupation front and that approximately one third of its area is covered by forests that are home to endemic species. The data were processed within a spatial analysis scenario using geoprocessing techniques. The results show three fire recurrence zones as critical (vulnerable) scenarios for remaining forests (mainly Indigenous Lands and Conservation Units) with important biodiversity. Approximately 22% of the occurrences occurred in forest areas, 18% in secondary vegetation and 29% in pasture, representing 70% of the total records in over a decade, in addition to clearly indicating the participation of traditional management practices, even with the decrease in deforestation. The areas with the highest recurrence of hot spots occurred in microregions with a level of rural development well below the national average, especially in terms of environmental preservation.