Amazonia’s fire crises: Emergency fire bans insufficient, strategic action needed before next burning season

Fire count in the Brazilian Amazon in 2019–2021. a) Weekly sum of expected fire (black line) with confidence intervals (shaded gray) and observed fire count (red bars) in 2019, 2020 and 2021 across the Brazilian Amazon. b) Cumulative expected fire count (dashed line) with confidence intervals (shaded) and observed fire count (solid line) for 2019 (blue), 2020 (red) and 2021 (yellow). Credit: Communications Earth & Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-024-01344-4

In response to the escalating fire crises in the Amazon, a timely study has revealed alarming shortcomings in the emergency fire bans implemented by the Brazilian Government. Initially seen as a promising solution in 2019, these bans have consistently fallen short in subsequent years, revealing a pressing need for strategies that address the underlying causes of each type of fire.

Dr. Manoela Machado, a postdoctoral researcher at the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford and also at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, and the lead author of the study, said, “Emergency fire bans are not a standalone solution for the fire crises; they can be effective when strategically implemented and rigorously enforced during critical periods to prevent ignitions, but to solve the crises, we need measures that address the motivations behind different types of fires and, most crucially, focus on stopping deforestation.”

The Amazon plays an essential role in regulating global climate patterns, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining local and Indigenous communities. The persistent inability to effectively manage these fires not only jeopardizes the ecological integrity of the Amazon but also intensifies global climate change and negatively impacts human health and well-being.

Dr. Erika Berenguer, a co-author of the study, said, “When deforestation or pasture fires escape into surrounding forests, they can kill up to 50% of the trees, considerably contributing to both the climate and the biodiversity crises. It is imperative to halt these other fire types in order to avoid burning Amazonian forests.”

The study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, underscores the urgent need for strong political commitment ahead of the next burning season, anticipated to peak in July and August and likely worsened by recent El Niño conditions. Dr. Machado said, “A drier and hotter climate favors the spread of fires, so it’s crucial to prevent ignitions when the environment is most fire-prone.”

The study highlights the inadequacy of reactive measures and the critical need for a shift toward proactive, comprehensive strategies, which include targeted interventions, effective landscape management, engaged community involvement, robust public awareness campaigns, and crucially, stopping deforestation.

Co-author Dr. Imma Oliveras Menor added, “Future directions should take into account the important role of social actors such as Indigenous and local communities, and establish effective multi-stakeholder communication and interoperability.”

More information:
Manoela S. Machado et al, Emergency policies are not enough to resolve Amazonia’s fire crises, Communications Earth & Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-024-01344-4

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Amazonia’s fire crises: Emergency fire bans insufficient, strategic action needed before next burning season (2024, April 18)
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