Dynamics of forest fires in the San Rafael National Park Reserve, Paraguay, period 2007-2017

Abstract

Every year the San Rafael National Park Reserve (RPNSR) is affected by forest fires that cause damage to extensive areas of both forests and natural grasslands and other components of biodiversity. This can result in an inconvenience if the corresponding measures are not taken in the management of these phenomena. Therefore, the main objective was to analyze the dynamics of forest fires in the RPNSR, through a multi-temporal analysis in the period 2007-2017, with the detailed recording of heat sources captured by the MODIS sensor and analysis with geographic information systems. Comparison and analysis with monthly rainfall data. The same ones gave as result that indistinctly of the pluviometric regime given throughout the period of analysis, fires were registered. In relation to the amount of heat sources registered monthly, the months of greater registry of heat sources go from June to November, being the months of July and August those that more repeatedly present the highest peaks. Based on these results and analyzing the history of actions in forest fire management already undertaken by organizations and institutions in the RPNSR, a Forest Fire Prevention and Control Plan was proposed with the most important points.