A Plant Mass Fire (IMAVE) was registered yesterday at 8:30 p.m. in the Volcán Barú National Park (PNVB), district of Paso Ancho district of Tierras Altas. The accident was fully controlled.
Carlos Castillo, head of the Protected Areas and Biodiversity section of the Ministry of the Environment, explained that the fire affected an area of eleven hectares, mainly where grasses predominate.
He added that this IMAVE, controlled this morning, becomes the first of the year, within a protected area in the province of Chiriquí.
Park rangers and technicians from the Ministry of the Environment (MiAMBIENTE), units of the Meritorious Fire Department, the NGO SAR Panama, the National Police, Highland Guides and volunteers participated in the control and liquidation work.
And it is that, during the dry season, the situation is more complex, which is why MiAMBIENTE reinforces monitoring and permanent patrolling (7 days a week, 24 hours a day) with its technical staff and park rangers.
This patrol extends to 23 sensitive points located in the Volcán Barú National Park (PNVB), eleven in La Amistad International Park (PILA), four in the Playa La Barqueta Agrícola Wildlife Refuge (RVSPLBA) and in the Gulf Marine National Park. of Chiriqui (PNMGCh).
During the last five years, in Chiriquí, 2019 is the year with the greatest impact, registering 1,917 hectares. affected by IMAVE, while in 2021 the figure decreased to 417 has. Last year the amount was minimal.
It should be noted that the statistics show that in the dry season – between the months of January to April – the incidence of fires in plant masses in the province increases significantly, which results in effects on the soil, flora, fauna, microclimate, and microclimate resources. as well as effects are caused to the communities.
