Africa-Press – Mozambique. Around 500 hectares of vegetation were destroyed as a result of uncontrolled fires in the Maputo Special Reserve (REM), in Matutuine district, on Thursday.
REM administrator Miguel Gonçalves explained that the affected area corresponds to 0.5% of the reserve’s total area of 104,000 hectares, and not the 50% mistakenly reported by Noticias.
He added that the fire resulted in the loss of vegetation, damage to transmission poles and telecommunications lines, but did not significantly impact wildlife.
So far, Goncalves said, the cause of the fires remained unknown, but he suggested that it might have been arson.
He added that there was already a plan to burn the area affected by the fire, as a strategic way to revitalise the pasture, an action that would follow appropriate procedures.
The reserve’s grasslands, scrub and dense forest depend on fire for their revitalisation and maintenance, he said.
“Fire is a management tool used to remove combustible material (dry biomass), promote new pastures in the form of mosaics and prevent high fire intensities in dry season,” he explained.
Gonçalves insisted that the REM was equipped with fire beaters, firebreaks, water tanks and other equipment designed to prevent uncontrolled burning.
“We recently acquired a tractor for cleaning the interior and exterior of the conservation area, in order to prevent any fire that breaks out outside the reserve from spreading to the interior,” he remarked.
In turn, Armindo Armane, conservation director at the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), said that there had been regular awareness campaigns within the communities, with a view to alerting them about the dangers and negative impacts of uncontrolled fires and the importance of preserving the environment.
“We explained to the communities the implications of uncontrolled fires for the environment, as many fauna and forest species are devastated,” he stresses.
