News

Costa Rica Mountains saved from forest fires

09.06.2014

In March 2014, a severe forest fire took place on the southeast region of Costa Rica. It spread to the mountains of Chirripó National Park, which are the tallest of the country (3820 m) and are located in the Amistad Pacífico Conservation Area.

Fragile ecosystems such as the moors and cloud forests were affected. Firefighters had to battle 12 blazes in the Alto Chirripó Indigenous Reserve as well as in some hectares of the National Park.

While the causes of the forest fire have not officially been determined, officials from the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) suspect that the fire started due to an illegal logging operation in Talamanca. The use of slash-and-burn techniques in the area is often associated with illegal marijuana cultivation.

SINAC reached the area and hired a private company to help fight the fire. It also submitted a request to the National Emergency Commission to declare a level 3 fire, which would enable the government to allocate more resources to the area and attend the emergency by air; otherwise the fire fighters would have had to walk 40 kms approximately trough the rough terrain. Level 3 is one of the most severe forest fires ranking out of 4. When a forest fire is declared level 4, the government is required to solicit international emergency assistance.

Costa Rica has a law under the SINAC, which guarantees that the ecosystems under these areas are managed within the Ministry of Environment.Most of Costa Rica´s forests are due probably to human actions such as small garbage fires, hunting related activities, and pyromania.

This year’s 2014 fires were exacerbated by the dry season, broken ground and the firefighters unfamiliarity with the area. In addition, strong winds and low humidity combined with lack of water to fight the fire prompted the quick spreading of the fire. However, thanks to private enterprise support, semi-autonomous institutions such as the National Insurance Institute´s Fire Corps and others state institutions like the National Emergency Committee and groups of volunteers, the fire was controlled.    As a control measure for the future, an heliport will be built in Moravia de Chirripo, to serve as an operations base.

Picture: Luis Sánchez-Área de Conservación La Amistad