20/07/2005 – With Europe
experiencing its dryest summer on record,
WWF is urging more coordinated planning to
fight forest fires in Spain, especially after
the death of 11 people fighting fires in Guadalajara,
outside Madrid.
According to WWF-Spain, thousands of hectares
of forest and scrubland are destroyed each
year in summer fires in Spain. This year,
Spain has already lost about 15,000ha of forest
to fires, with some 160 fires started as a
result of camp fires and barbeques.
In a recent report, WWF-Spain has identified
deficiencies in present policies and practices
in the country's environmental councils and
forest agencies, noting that there are currently
few plans of defense against major fires.
The global conservation organization recommends
that any plans must specifically consider
camp fires as an element of fire risk (not
only the meteorological conditions and the
state of the ground), and should include measures
for the preparation of recreational zones,
training, and information campaigns, as well
as fire prohibition, particulary during the
summer.
Forest fires have become a subject of general
interest because of the social repercussions
and the unfortunate loss of life. More than
120 people have lost their lives from forest
fires between 11000 and 2003.
"Once the fire begins, if the environmental
conditions are propitious – high temperatures,
little humidity, and wind – it is practically
impossible to stop the flames," said
Raquel Gómez, manager of WWF-Spain's
Forest Programme.
"We estimate that 96 per cent of fires
are caused by human action," she added.
"For that reason, it is fundamental that
we don’t avoid the facts that lie behind how
fires start and know how best to prevent them."
WWF-Spain has asked Spain’s Deputy Prime
Minister to develop a plan to fight forest
fires which establishes the mechanisms of
coordination between all interested bodies
fighting against forest fires, and that adequate
resources are put aside.
WWF also recommends that people refrain from
making such fires from May to October – Spain's
forest fire season – so as to avoid further
tragedies.
