Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19970214174229.00670dcc@francomedia.qc.ca> Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 12:42:29 -0500 From: Hubert DUVIEUSART <mailto:duvieush@FRANCOMEDIA.QC.CA> Subject: Re: Wildfire To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Greetings,At 13:28 13-02-97 +0300, Andres Ferreyra wrote:
>I would like to hear about the DEVEL-L listmembers' experience in other
>countries - where is fire also used extensively as an agricultural tool? Are
>there any programs dealing with the issue? Please let me know the
>coordinates of such programs.
"Slash-and-burn" clearing is still the predominant method of expanding farmland or replacing depleted agricultural land in a large part of subsaharan Africa, in particular in the wooded savanas and in the forested areas, and very little control is exercized on this, to my knowledge. In the case of itinerant agriculture, as is still prevalent in this area, that method is probably the only one that can be used by peasants with no access to power machinery. That kind of land is usually farmed for not more than three to five years before being left fallow for a longer period. This means thant land clearing is not a one-time operation, but is part of the yearly chores of small farmers. This process leads to the loss of large areas of valuable land in dry savanas, where the population pressure is usually too high to allow for a sufficient recovery period. These areas, furthermore, are usually supporting a heavy load of livestock, including highly damaging goats, whose browsing does not leave any chance for vegetation recovery. In the wet forest areas, however, natural forest growth is often fast enough to assure the natural recovery.
Furthermore, fire is used in many parts of the agricultural world on a more permanent basis to clear the fields of dead grass and branches at the start of every growing season (spring or rainy season according to the area). Burning, of course, does not bring any nutrient to the soils, but many people still believe that fire enriches the soil (It does, in fact, makes potassium more readily available). Apparently, the basis of the practice of early season burning is linked only to the appearance of the fields : new growth is visible earlier if old thatch has been burned. Fire might even give a few additional days to the early vegetation, by allowing light to reach the young shoots. Most of the organic matter contained in the dead vegetation, however, is lost through the process, which contributes to a degradation of soil structure.
The practice of early annual burning of the fields was widespread in the savanas of North-Western Madagascar in the seventies, when it was forbidden, for the reason just given (loss of organic matter leading to heavy erosion). The policy was enforced with heavy fines, with a striking result : controlled fires were replaced with wild fires ignited in remote areas, by peasants who did not take the chance to remain on location and be caught by the police ! Apparently, the same thing has happened in other parts of the world.
By the way, are you aware that most forest fires (and there are many of them) in the remote areas of Northern Canada are of natural origin (lighnings) ?
hope this bit of info will help you.
Hubert
Hubert Duvieusart, agr. Montreal, QC, CANADA mailto:duvieush@francomedia.qc.ca agro-economiste - agronome conseil Agro-economist - agricultural consultant Conseiller en developpement rural Rural Development Adviser