Firefighters have fought 2,300 foresters in 2024
Venezuelan firefighters have fought more than 2,300 fires forestry so far in 2024, the Minister of Ecosocialism (Environment), Josué Lorca, stated this Monday during a broadcast on the state channel VTV.
The official assured that there are “special programs” for fire management in communities that are close to the country’s protected areas, where there are national parks and natural monuments, and where more than 60% of tourism is concentrated.
He recalled that in April a fire was recorded in the Henri Pittier Park (Aragua and Carabobo states) – the oldest in Venezuela, which is home to more than 500 species of birds – and was extinguished in seven days.
Lorca said that Venezuela prevents and fights fires through coordinated action between the National Risk Management System, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Ecosocialism, together with forest firefighters.
On August 31, the minister announced the installation of a fifth surveillance and control system to detect environmental crimes, as well as forest fires, with which – he indicated – this network already has 70% of the Caribbean nation covered.
The Ministry of Ecosocialism assured in June that it seeks to expand forest protection to combat deforestation due to factors such as illegal logging and fires, through six environmental programs that include measures to involve communities in the protection and maintenance of forests.
Last year, 12,854 fires were “controlled”, of which 8,803 occurred on land, according to official information.
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