Multitemporal analysis of burned areas in tropical ecosystems of Campeche, Mexico: meteorological and anthropogenic causes

Abstract

Every day, 20,000 hectares of forests are lost worldwide due to fires in the intertropical zone. The sensitivity of forests to fire is a consequence of their high mortality rate, which threatens these ecosystems. This research analyzed the distribution of burned areas in the tropical forests covering the eastern region of the Escárcega municipality, Campeche, between 2013 and 2020, and explored the relationship of these areas with meteorological conditions and agricultural use of fire. Burned areas were detected using Landsat 8 OLI satellite imagery and the NBR and BAI spectral indices. An area of 29,151.82 hectares was burned, corresponding to 12.06 % of the tropical forest in the study area. The year 2019, a year of high temperatures and low precipitation, recorded the largest fire and burned area, confirming the relationship between drought and increased fires. Twenty-six interviews were held in nine ejidos that allowed us to investigate the causes of the fires, including poaching, agricultural burning, and changes in land use. Proper fire management is essential to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. The interplay between anthropogenic and meteorological variables influences the frequency of fires. Inappropriate fire management can lead to uncontrolled burns, and weather conditions can favor the spread of fire.