What are resilient forests to the passage of fire?
They are forest areas, forest plantations, agricultural plantations or gardens that have the capacity to resist and survive the passage of fire, since they are green enough for the fire to pass only superficially or not at all.
We need the forests to survive, the air we breathe comes from the trees that produce oxygen. Forests regulate the local climate, infiltrate rainwater into the soil, prevent erosion, provide shade, and many other ecosystem services.
After many years working with forest fires, we have concluded that the combination of species and practices can make a more resistant forest.
Line of Defense
Planting shade trees or plants such as piñuelas or cacti that maintain humidity, the fire does not enter the property. If, on the other hand, the forests are full of dry leaves or there is jaragua grass in the most dangerous areas, then a greater risk will be experienced and, after the passage of fire, greater soil degradation.
Microorganisms that inhabit the soil, such as fungi, help maintain connections between trees and understory plants, through these fibers (hyphae) they retain moisture and even transfer it from one place to another according to demand. These organisms allow a site to be more resilient and stay wetter.
The species of evergreen trees are another option to keep our property with a lot of humidity, species like espavel, cannonball, canelo, tempisque, mahogany, etc., are excellent allies to create more humid microhabitats.