Pemon Perspectives of Fire Management in Canaima National Park, Southeastern Venezuela

Abstract

Recent research on the ecology of fire has challenged the view that the use of fire by indigenous peoples is detrimental to ecosystems and wildlife in protected areas.

Mauritia flexuosa palm swamp communities: natural or human-made? A palynological study of the Gran Sabana region (northern South America) within a neotropical context

“…In addition to the slow and continuous savanna expansion due to the edge effect of fires on the forest-savanna ecotone, accidental uncontrolled fires burning huge forest areas have also been observed on occasion (Fölster, 1986). The reasons for the extent and frequency of these fires include activities such as cooking, hunting, fire prevention, communication and magic, among others (Rodriguez, 2007). Surprisingly, land-use practices such as extensive agriculture or cattle raising, typical of other cultures strongly linked to fire, are not characteristic of the Pemón culture (Rodriguez, 2004a).…”

“…However, the low effectiveness obtained (about 13% of fires are controlled and extinguished) has called the utility of these expensive measures into question (Sletto, 2008;Bilbao et al, 2010). This low success rate is mainly due to (i) the large extension of the area to monitor; (ii) the high number of daily fires; (iii) a bias in fire control measures focused only in specific locations; and (iv) the anthropogenic character of fires, which make any kind of prevention measures difficult (Rodriguez, 2007;Bilbao et al, 2010). An evident complication to deal with the problem of fire has been the permanent confrontation between indigenous people and non-indigenous actors with economic and conservation interests in the GS.…”

Can savanna burning projects deliver measurable greenhouse emissions reductions and sustainable livelihood opportunities in fire-prone settings?

“…Despite the regulatory environment, Pemón Amerindian people, traditional inhabitants of the region, use fire in their daily activities, considering their fire practice an essential part of their cultural identity (Rodríguez 2007;Rodríguez and Sletto 2009). The Pemón rely on their traditional knowledge to manage fires so as to avoid fires running out of control and causing significant impacts in forested areas.…”

“…The traditional Pemón approach is thus to fight fire with fire (FIEB 2007; Bilbao personal observation). In contrast, fire fighters conventionally use water and beaters (Rodríguez 2007). The conservation policies undertaken in the past few decades in CNP based on the exclusion of fire, largely ignore the perceptions, expectations, and knowledge of the park's Pemón inhabitants, and have led to serious conflict between the Pemón people and government agencies.…”

Vegetation changes in the Neotropical Gran Sabana (Venezuela) around the Younger Dryas chron

“…Fire is a key component of the Pemó n culture as they use it every day to burn wide extensions of savannas and, occasionally, forests (Kingsbury, 2001). The reasons for the extent and frequency of these fires are related to activities such as cooking, hunting, fire prevention, communication and magic (Rodríguez, 2004(Rodríguez, , 2007. The Pemó n people do not utilize extensive agriculture or livestock, which is typical for cultures strongly linked to fire (Rodríguez, 2004).…”