Fire incidence in Argentina during the past two decades, and their association with land cover and use in different environmental contexts
The use of fire has driven great changes in land cover. Although the occurrence of fires is modulated by climatic conditions and the availability of fuel biomass, human beings have modified historical fire regimes through various mechanisms. Therefore, in many environments, human activities are the main driver of the modern fire regime. In this study, we analyze fire incidence in the Argentine territory for the period 2000-2019. Specifically, we 1) characterize fire occurrence at the provincial level and 2) evaluate the spatial pattern of the burned area (BA); in the areas where BA was concentrated, we 3) describe environmental conditions (climate and vegetation) and 4) evaluate whether different land covers or uses were associated with certain characteristics of the modern fire regime (frequency and extent). Between 2000 and 2019, 47.84 Mha were burned, mainly concentrated in north-central Argentina. Within this area, we differentiated four climatic zones (wich were subtropical-humid, subtropical, temperate and temperate-semiarid), six vegetation units (Chaco, Monte, Pampas, Espinal, Yungas, and Paraná), and seven conglomerates of spatial association between land cover/uses and fire incidence. Fires associated with high-intensity land use occurred mostly in the subtropical and temperate zones, with vegetation of Chaco and Espinal units. Those related to low-intensity land uses were registered mainly in subtropical-humid and temperate-semiarid zones, with vegetation of Monte and Paranaense units. In most cases, fire was used to reduce or eliminate the cover of native species, either woody or herbaceous vegetation units, to promote the growth of cultivated (cereals, oilseeds) or forage-species (implanted or native), to foster agricultural and/or livestock production, respectively. Therefore, our results suggest that the high incidence of fires in central Argentina was associated with the current productive system.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | spa |
| Published: |
Asociación Argentina de Ecología
2023
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| Online Access: | https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/2135 |
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| Summary: | The use of fire has driven great changes in land cover. Although the occurrence of fires is modulated by climatic conditions and the availability of fuel biomass, human beings have modified historical fire regimes through various mechanisms. Therefore, in many environments, human activities are the main driver of the modern fire regime. In this study, we analyze fire incidence in the Argentine territory for the period 2000-2019. Specifically, we 1) characterize fire occurrence at the provincial level and 2) evaluate the spatial pattern of the burned area (BA); in the areas where BA was concentrated, we 3) describe environmental conditions (climate and vegetation) and 4) evaluate whether different land covers or uses were associated with certain characteristics of the modern fire regime (frequency and extent). Between 2000 and 2019, 47.84 Mha were burned, mainly concentrated in north-central Argentina. Within this area, we differentiated four climatic zones (wich were subtropical-humid, subtropical, temperate and temperate-semiarid), six vegetation units (Chaco, Monte, Pampas, Espinal, Yungas, and Paraná), and seven conglomerates of spatial association between land cover/uses and fire incidence. Fires associated with high-intensity land use occurred mostly in the subtropical and temperate zones, with vegetation of Chaco and Espinal units. Those related to low-intensity land uses were registered mainly in subtropical-humid and temperate-semiarid zones, with vegetation of Monte and Paranaense units. In most cases, fire was used to reduce or eliminate the cover of native species, either woody or herbaceous vegetation units, to promote the growth of cultivated (cereals, oilseeds) or forage-species (implanted or native), to foster agricultural and/or livestock production, respectively. Therefore, our results suggest that the high incidence of fires in central Argentina was associated with the current productive system. |
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