Fires in Cuban Forests on the Rise,

Fires in Cuban Forests on the Rise

HAVANA , Cuba, Jun 24 (acn) The number of fires occurred in Cuban forests,
from January through May, a critical period in the national campaign
against forest fires, reached 695, a higher figure in comparison with
the previous year. According to data from the Cuban National Rangers
Department, during this
same period last year, they registered 322 forest fires, less than half
than the present figure.

According to data from the Cuban National Rangers Department, during this
same period last year, they registered 322 forest fires, less than half
than the present figure.

This source also pointed out that more than 90% of these fires are mainly
caused by human negligence, by poachers and fishermen, smokers and
passer-bys, and by drivers and operators of machines for agricultural
purposes.

An official from that institution, Nurys Corona Rodriguez, mentioned that
the first five months of the year are the hardest hit by agricultural
draught, high temperatures, relative humidity, which are favorable climate
conditions for fire.

Corona explained that last year there were 4,975 hectares affected,
whereas this year there has been more than 18,400.

The places more seriously damaged were: Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus,
Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, the
Cienaga de Zapata (Matanzas), and the special municipality of the Isle of
Youth.

The direction of the National Rangers Department estimates that economic
loses excelled the 10,400,000 Cuban pesos, a higher figure than in 2010
(200,000).

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) affirms that more than 40
million people have been affected by extreme temperatures, fire forests,
draughts, storms and floods, in Latin America and the Caribbean, during
the last decade.

http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2011/0624fires-in-cuban-forests-on-the-rise.htm