Gestão do fogo sustentável para mitigação do risco de incêndios florestais

Abstract

Forest fires represent one of the main threats to Amazonian ecosystems, intensified by inadequate agricultural practices and the lack of standardized prevention protocols. This work aimed to develop evidence-based strategies for the construction of firebreaks and to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Amazonas Military Fire Department, to mitigate the impacts caused by forest fires in the region. The research consisted of a literature review and comparative analysis of national and international studies on vegetation types, combustibility patterns, burning time and economic impacts. The results showed that the width, maintenance and typology of firebreaks directly influence their efficiency, and that the adoption of native species with low flammability can contribute to green firebreaks with lower environmental impact. The evaluation of the burning time, based on the literature, allowed us to estimate average combustion times between 60 and 150 seconds, varying according to the fuel load and the humidity of the vegetation. In the economic field, it was found that the costs of implementing and maintaining firebreaks are significantly lower than the losses resulting from large fires, which can reach billions of reais in productive, environmental and social losses. It is concluded that firebreaks constitute a cost-effective and environmentally appropriate prevention measure, if they are associated with clear management protocols, participatory governance and continuous monitoring.