The Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park carried out a new experience of prescribed burning to conserve environments and prevent fires

The intervention was developed on three specifically delimited plots, where the fire made it possible to reduce part of the accumulated vegetation and manage the fuel load present in these environments. Prescribed burning consists of planned and controlled fire applications that are carried out only under certain meteorological and operational conditions. For its execution, prior planning is required, the evaluation of meteorological conditions, the delimitation of work areas, the organization of resources and the establishment of security and control measures. The execution of the burning was supervised by the Directorate of Fighting Forest Fires and Emergencies (DLIFyE), which determines the necessary conditions to carry out this type of interventions. A tool to conserve and prevent The objective of these experiences is twofold. On the one hand, contribute to the conservation of grasslands and other environments associated with the wetland. On the other hand, reduce the amount of accumulated plant material that can act as fuel and favor the spread and increase in intensity of a fire. The planned use of fire allows, in this way, to intervene in certain sectors under previously established conditions, instead of the accumulation of vegetation being exposed to fires of uncontrolled behavior. The experience had the participation and collaboration of different organizations and teams linked to emergency response and fire management. Among them were the Argentine Red Cross Campana Branch, INTA Delta, GISAE Argentina, BERF Buenos Aires, the Forestry Brigade of the Federal Police and the Civil Emergency Unit. ICE teams from other national parks also participated: Campos del Tuyú, El Palmar, Islas de Santa Fe and Pre Delta, in addition to the Directorate of Fight against Forest Fires and Emergencies (DLIFyE). The experience carried out in the Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park is part of the actions of management and conservation of the environments and fire prevention through planned interventions and under conditions of control.A refuge for the speciesThe high grasslands are dominated by enormous grasslands or “fox tails”, where birds such as the mistos and corbatitas find a key place to live. In the ravine, natural logging forests are formed, accompanied by elders, ombúes and espinillos, and are visited by thrushes, blue tacuaritas and pepiteros. There the weasels and wild cats find daytime refuge. The floodplains are home to most of the areas threatened species, among which the emblematic swamp deer stands out. The Reserve area was declared a Ramsar Site in 2008 and designated as an Important Area for the Conservation of Birds (AICA), in addition to protecting representative environments of the Delta and Paraná Islands, Pampa and Espinal ecoregions.