The forestry Law of 1970 placed fire control responsibility in the Ministry of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources. The fire control programme is designed to support local organizations through central operation's centres which provide transportation, food, equipment, etc. There are regional examples of excellence where there are economic incentives to prevent and control wildfires. Venezuela’s suppression effectiveness was demonstrated by their involvement with helping Brazil during the fire events of early 1998.
Venezuela is predominantly classified as tropical. Natural fire causes are rare, thus the fire problem is a human problem. The dry tropical forests are considered those at greatest risk. There is tremendous population pressure in these areas. A rise in fire occurrence is expected (Yegres 1998).
The eastern portion of the country has experienced a rise in plantations. The programme began in 1969 through a major governmental forestation programme. There are approximately one half million hectares of plantation. This is a region of high lightning occurrence, thus there is a high risk of fire starts and fire loss. The potential economic impact to these plantations gave rise to fire control efforts.
There have been large fires in the recent past. There is a system of detection towers, aerial detection, ground patrols and trained firefighting crews. Helicopters are used to transport firefighting personnel. The program is well defined in this region. Largely due to the potential economic loss, there are many trained professionals performing the firefighting duties (Yegres 1998). More than a dozen fire technicians have taken advantage of training opportunities internationally. Yegres (1998) commented that many of the trained professionals have other duties and do not have the time to devote fully to wildfire management.
References
Baptista, P. 1998. Los incendios forestales en la Republica Oriental del Uruguay. Presented at the First South American Seminar/Fifth Technical Meeting on the Control of Forest Fires, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, June 29 to July 2, 1998.
Ribeiro, G.A. & Cuoto, L. 1998. Editors for The First South American Seminar/Fifth Technical Meeting on the Control of Forest Fires, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, June 29 to July 2, 1998.
Sanhueza, P.I. 1998. Cooperacion de los sectores publico y privado en el control de los incendios forestales en Chile: Organizacion e integracion: Claves para un buen resultado. Presented at the First South American Seminar/Fifth Technical Meeting on the Control of Forest Fires, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, June 29 to July 2, 1998.
Yegres, L.E. 1998. Control de Incendios forestales en Venezuela. Presented at the First South American Seminar/Fifth Technical Meeting on the Control of Forest Fires, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, June 29 to July 2, 1998.
