Experiências internacionais de manejo integrado do fogo em áreas protegidas – recomendações para implementação de manejo integrado de fogo no Cerrado

Abstract

The Integrated Fire Management (IFM) is an approach that considers ecological, cultural and
management issues to propose the use of prescribed burning, together with fire prevention and suppression
measures, to ensure conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems. Large-scale IFM programs have been
implemented for a long time in Protected Areas (PA) in different continents, especially in fire-dependent or
fire-prone ecosystems. This article summarizes international fire management experiences in Protected Areas and indicates recommendations for IFM implementation in Cerrado’s PA, where such programs are being tested. Examples of implementation of fire management initiatives are reviewed with emphasis on research methodologies and monitoring in savannas ecosystems, specifically in Southern Africa and Northern Australia, where research objectives usually focus on assessing the impacts of different fire regimes in flora and fauna. Research and monitoring programs have been implemented only for a small number of species or indicator groups. Among commonly reported indicators are the monitoring through remote sensing of burned areas, fire season and occurrence of fires (managed or not) and monitoring the vegetation structure, especially
woody vegetation. Among animal groups, birds, insects and terrestrial mammals are the most commonly
monitored groups in fire management areas. Even in areas where research and monitoring efforts are
constant, a certain degree of uncertainty is always present. Often, the influence of research on management decisions is limited. However, research promotes learning environments, foster information exchange and helps improve the technical quality of managers’s decision making process. Some recommendations for the IFM implementation in the Cerrado PA are listed at the end of the study