Ocorrência de fogo no domínio biogeográfico da Caatinga: análise dos padrões de distribuição espacial e temporal ao longo de quarenta anos

Abstract

The occurrence of fire events has been consistently observed in Brazil and worldwide, and understanding their patterns, possible causes, and effects has become crucial for management actions and the strengthening of public policies. This study aimed to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of fire occurrences in the Caatinga, a Brazilian fire-independent biogeographic domain. The analysis consisted of evaluating the temporal and spatial patterns of fire events considering the different biogeographic districts of the domain over a 40-year period (1985-2024), as well as during the last decade of the investigated historical period. The investigations considered both the frequency of fire events and the cumulative areas affected by fire. The data revealed a variable spatial and temporal pattern, characterized by years with smaller burned areas and others with a greater extent of affected areas. The spatial distribution of these events was also variable, with a higher concentration and frequency of occurrences in the biogeographic districts of the Caatinga located in the western portion of the domain, where it borders the Cerrado domain and areas of current agricultural expansion, indicating a greater susceptibility of this region to fire incidence.