Forest fires burning strong in the Pine Ridge last night
Intense heat from the sun and lightning strike are natural cases of fire, from which some ecosystems benefit by helping vegetation and animals to survive and reproduce.
Naturally caused fire helps to clear out accumulated dead organic matter that prevents new plants from accessing the soil nutrients for growth. Other plants, such as the pine tree, fire is part of their life cycle, the pine cone needs to melt its covered pitch to release seeds for germination.
Wildlife in fire-prone ecosystems also benefits from fire. Invasive species that are not used to fire do not survive and the food availability increases and animals may expand habitat range.
Belize fire season is from the drier months of February to June annually. During the fire season, Ya’axché highly recommended to take fire prevention measures in farms and to keep forest communities in alert of any run-away fires.
Visit the following link to learn more about our current project and help us to build fire fighting communities in the Maya Golden Landscape, southern Belize.
Photos by Marty Casado
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