Wild Fires burn the Pine Savannah of Payne’s Creek National Park

The Payne’s Creek National Park had been under threat from wild fires for the

entire month of May when the dry and hot season completely set in and just a few

Rangers form PCNP backed up with rangers from the PLI face the on coming blaze.

days before the storm which brought the floods to southern Belize was the final straw which broke the camel’s back.  TIDE rangers reported that over 200 acres of the park had been burnt due to the wild fires.  The park is prone to wild fires during the dry season, and TIDE has been asking the buffer community residents, hunters, and farmers who live in the area to as much as possible, avoid lighting any fires during this time of the year.

The fires are usually set by peasants who clear land and burn it for agricultural purposes.  The fires get out of control, escape and begin to burn the herbaceous layer of the adjacent pine savannahs causing costly damage to the area.

Fighting wild fire has no specific time; day or night

Another practice is that the hunters deliberately set the grass ablaze so that when the rainy season begins the White-Tailed deer will come out in numbers to graze on the fresh, green, new sprouts and thus make themselves and easier target.  Of course, this unsustainable activity is even worse than the first scenario. 

The loggers who fall pine trees for lumber are themselves concerned about the wild fires and so have been working closely with TIDE and the Belize Forest Department to ensure that the area they use for their livelihoods are protected and properly managed.  They form part of and are founding members of the Southern Belize Fire Working Group.

They have conducted prescribed burn exercises in the area to prevent damage and

Rangers take a rest after batteling the wild fires for two days.

loss of regeneration of young pine saplings.  This practical exercise is part of the implementation of the prescribed burns plans set out by the Forest Department jointly with TIDE and other community partners.  Over the years TIDE realized the importance of engaging community members and members of other local organizations by having them participate in fire management training workshops in order to mitigate the incidences of wild fires which burn the area every year.

If you would like to contribute to the management of the PCNP and fire management to mitigate the destruction of pristine habitats visit our home page or contact Jonathan Labozzetta to find out how to become a member of TIDE or to make a donation.