Journal
FIRE-SWITZERLAND
Volume 6, Issue 3, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/fire6030081
Keywords
montane tropical forest; fire regime; environmental justice
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The state of Michoacan in central Mexico is responsible for nearly half of the global avocado trade. Fire has played a significant role in land-use change processes in the region. A study conducted from 2000 to 2017 found an average of 276 fires covering 3287 hectares of forest per year, mainly affecting pine and pine-oak forests. The distance to urban settlements, roads, agricultural plots, and avocado orchards showed a strong correlation with fire occurrence, with a median fire return interval of 2-3 years.
The state of Michoacan in central Mexico supplies nearly 50% of the global avocado trade in a region known as the Michoacan Avocado Belt or Avocadoland. Fire has been a component associated with regional land-use change processes. We documented fire regime attributes for the period 2000-2017, discussed the use of fire related to the expansion of avocado orchards, and evaluated the role of atmospheric variables and human infrastructure. There was a mean of 276 fires covering 3287 ha of forest per year. Over 80% of the burned area was covered by pine and pine-oak forests, with a strong correlation of ignitions with the distance to urban settlements, roads, agricultural plots, and avocado orchards. There is a median fire return interval of 2-3 years, and the distance to avocado orchards and main roads was highly correlated with fire recurrence. Final users of the international marketing of this fruit may be unaware of the fire-related land-use changes, namely, the damage to biodiversity, forest health, and water bodies, as well as to producers' well-being, behind the great demand for avocados. The present conditions of insecurity and social conflict must be addressed to guarantee, among other things, the conservation of these diverse forests.
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