FIRE MANAGEMENT IN LA ENCRUCIJADA BIOSPHERE RESERVE’S WETLANDS

Abstract

Fire is a natural element associated with various human activities and is an environmental factor of great importance in the dynamics of ecosystems.
However, its frequency and intensity have made it one of the main agents of disturbance in forests and jungles. Since mankind has exercised dominion over fire, it's anthropic manifestation has led to landscape transformation and dynamicsThus, the fire issue highlights the negative environmental and social impacts of fire on forest ecosystems.(NPS, 2009).
The Biosphere Reserve of La Encrucijada (REBIEN) has diverse ecosystems, with coastal wetlands being the most characteristic of this protected natural area. Coastal wetlands are ecosystems with high ecological value, great biodiversity and productivity of aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna, but they are also part of fragile and threatened environments, with a high risk of deterioration and degradation. In the coastal wetlands of REBIEN, the presence of fire would seem out of place due to the hydromorphic condition of the soils in these ecosystems and the high humidity levels of the prevailing biota; however, as CONABIO (2007) points out, there are some types of vegetation where fire is present year after year due to anthropic management of its use (hunting of wildlife or to open up areas for cultivation and/or pastures), causing the mortality of species of great ecological heritage.