Indigenous brigades change the spatial patterns of wildfires, and the influence of climate on fire regimes

Abstract

1. Indigenous people have been managing fire-prone landscapes for millennia, especially in tropical savannas, thereby maintaining carbon stocks and pyrodiversity and ensuring food security. In some indigenous lands in Brazil, fire brigades are composed of indigenous people, integrating their traditional knowledge in Brazilian fire management policies; however, the effectiveness of their management is largely undocumented. Nevertheless, we need to know the effectiveness of indigenous fire brigades and their influence on fire patterns. 2. Here, we evaluate an 18-year historical series of fire patterns and burn scars, comparing periods with and without indigenous brigade activity, to describe the role of indigenous fire brigades in the Kadiwéu Indigenous Territory. In this Indigenous Territory, fire brigades composed of indigenous people have been instituted, trained and maintained by the National Center of Prevention and Combat of Wildfire (PREVFOGO/IBAMA) since 2009. These brigades are responsible for fire management throughout the Kadiwéu Indigenous Territory using controlled burning, prescribed burning and combating wildfires.3. We found that fire management by the indigenous brigades has reduced fire frequency by 80% in the areas with high fire frequency (over 70% of the analysed time). Management also reduced the size of the area burned by 53% and the influence of climate over the total area burned. According to our models, the area affected by fires is mainly influenced by annual rainfall in the absence of indigenous brigades; in contrast, climatic factors could not explain the variation in the burned area in the period without indigenous brigades.4. Synthesis and applications. The fire management realized by the indigenous brigades can modify the fire regime. These changes in the fire regime can include: changes in spatial patterns, the magnitude of fires and reduction in the influence of climate on fire regimes. Hence, the management carried out by the indigenous brigades can be considered an important tool for fire management. In addition to demonstrating the importance of programs that integrate traditional

Economic Losses and Cross Border Effects Caused by Pantanal Catastrophic Wildfires

“…It is evident that emergency costs and their influence extend far beyond the burn site and are much higher than prevention costs. Therefore, investments in integrated fire management are essential to avoid successive waves of economic impact similar to those described in this study and have proven to be highly effective in reducing wildfires (Oliveira et al 2022).…”

“…Similarly, Oliveira et al (2022) found that the implementation of IFM, particularly through Indigenous Brigades, significantly reduced wildfire occurrence in the Kadiwéu Indigenous Land, with the occurrence of fire being influenced more by community practices rather than weather conditions. Moreover, studies in central Brazil have highlighted those prescribed burns, made possible by legislative changes, have contributed to reducing large fires, the number of fire scars, fire intensity, and greenhouse gas emissions (Santos et al, 2021).…”

“…Consequently, the costs associated with firefighting efforts have escalated over the years (Suppression Costs | National Interagency Fire Center, n.d.). One effective strategy to reduce the extent and severity of wildfires is Integrated Fire Management (IFM), which can help prevent successive waves of economic impacts, as demonstrated in various studies in Brazil Oliveira et al (2022). For instance, research in federal protected areas has shown that IFM can lead to reduced burned areas, decreased conflicts, and better protection of fire-sensitive environments (Berlinck et al, 2021).…”

Compound dry-hot-fire events in South America: an unapparent, long-range and deadly ripple effect

“…The wide range of local impacts reinforces the claims for developing integrated re management (IFM) in the region 15,[20][21][22] , strengthening prevention actions 36 . Despite recent advances in reducing burned areas, re intensity, and associated emissions, IFM is still restricted to a few protected areas in Brazil [37][38][39] . Thus, expanding IFM is necessary, besides strengthening environmental protection laws and sustainable land management policies countrywide.…”

Economic losses and cross border effects caused by Pantanal catastrophic wildfires

“…Similarly,Oliveira et al (2022) found that the implementation of IFM, particularly through Indigenous Brigades, signi cantly reduced wild re occurrence in the Kadiwéu Indigenous Land, with the occurrence of re being in uenced more by community practices rather than weather conditions. Moreover, studies in central Brazil have highlighted those prescribed burns, made possible by legislative changes, have contributed to…”