📋 Tender Overview
By Melida Roman, IGP researcherForest fires in the Andean area of Peru are more frequently presented between the months of August to November and affect different plant populations and ecosystems. However, one of the issues that are rarely discussed is what happens to pastures after fire: Can they recover and continue to provide the benefits that communities need?
Pastizales predominate in the Andean mountains between 3000 and 4400 m s. n. m., and are known for their high biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services. The loss of plants and pastures caused by fire concerns local communities that depend on these natural areas for grazing and other essential activities.
From the Geophysical Institute of Peru (PGI), an entity attached to the Ministry of Environment (Minam), it has been evaluating how the vegetation changes in areas affected by fires, for example, in the Cusco region. The short -term results are overwhelming: the fire causes a serious impact and significantly reduces the amount of dry vegetation.
Recently, an expedition was carried out to Cusco mountain areas to evaluate how the grasslands are recovered in the medium term, before a forest fire that occurred in September 2022. This time, the results showed a more hopeful reality. In the places studied, the burned areas in 2022 presented a remarkable recovery: plants grew with more vigor, increased vegetation coverage density and biomass even exceeded the levels of the areas that were not burned that year. This recovery depends on factors such as soil fertility and continuous favorable rains.
While forest fires can generate serious consequences, scientific research, including which the PGI has been carrying out, reveal that low intensity fire can contribute to natural regeneration. This suggests that the use of fire in a controlled way, with technical criteria and knowledge of the environment, can be part of a sustainable management of Andean grasslands. This becomes more relevant due to the current prohibition of burning in Peru.
The PPE is committed to continue conducting key research for decision making for the benefit of the population. In this way, it generates evidence and scientific information to understand forest fires, their impacts and scope. Thus, the PGI continues to perform science to protect us, science to move forward.
opinion column published in Diario Correo Arequipa
