Pantanal: MPMS identifies 20 points mainly responsible for most fires

Twenty fire hotspots were identified in Mato Grosso do Sul that contributed to the record number of fires in the Pantanal. The data comes from a survey by the Public Ministry of Mato Grosso do Sul (MPMS) and was released this Wednesday (3).

The report identified that the 20 initial points generated 14 large fires, burning a total area of ​​292.86 thousand hectares and affecting 177 rural properties, one Indigenous Land and three Conservation Units.

Additionally, fires have affected 39.28 hectares of Bolivian territory. Some of these fires have not yet been completely contained, indicating that the numbers could increase.

The identification of the locations where the fires started was carried out by the MPMS using satellite images, with most of the fires starting in rural areas (65.82%), savannah (19.52%) and forest areas (5.76%).

13 rural properties were identified among the 20 initial fire points, one Indigenous Land and areas not registered in the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR).

The ignitions occurred mainly in Corumbá (17 points) and Porto Murtinho (3 points), with nine points close to navigable rivers, three close to roads and three on property boundaries.

Five points were in isolated areas, two without property registration and three inside private properties.

Some fires occurred in areas without human occupation or proximity to rivers or roads, such as the case of a fire in Corumbá that had great national repercussions. In at least two properties considered “abandoned”, no people or animals were found, suggesting a possible link with the fires.

In one incident, for example, a fire started due to an authorized scientific burn that got out of control, burning approximately 400 acres. In another case, a landowner reported that a neighboring property started a fire to destroy a beehive.