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Forest fires are becoming increasingly frequent throughout the globe, influencing socioeconomic and environmental aspects and endangering ecosystems and life. The forest fire risk zoning is an auxiliary tool for elaborating and implementing preventive policies. The present study aims to execute the forest fire risk zoning for the metropolitan region of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, testing its efficiency through the relationship with geolocated fires that occurred from 2011 to 2016. Thematic maps were made through information related to demographic density, road system, land use and cover, slope, orientation and altimetry of the terrain. The efficiency of the proposed zoning, 45.8% and 44.0% of the geolocated fires that occurred in the study area in the period 2011 to 2016 were present in areas considered with "very high" and "high" risk, respectively, demonstrating that the proposed zoning can be used to develop prevention policies for the metropolitan region of Curitiba.

ABSTRACT Pico do Marumbi State Park, in the mountains of Paraná, is the cradle of Brazilian mountaineering, sheltering several altitudinal ecosystems and endangered species. The elaboration and discussion of indicators to assist in public use management is urgent due to the vulnerability and pressure that these environments are subject to. It is also important to characterize the visitation profile and the correlation of accidents and incidents to adopt tools to protect visitors and nature. The data analyzed were extracted from official sources, registers, and records of incidents and accidents. Statistical treatment was adopted, in the analysis of variance and mean comparison tests, according to an entirely randomized design. Furthermore, Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) and cluster analysis determined the ideal season for visitation. Statistical differences were verified in different periods, with July with the highest average visitation, 924.6 visitors, and February with the lowest average, with 539.4 visitors. The cluster analysis identified the ideal period for visitation, between June and September. The trails to Abrolhos, Olimpo, and Rochedinho had the highest average, with 965.8, 1,080.4, and 1,088.2 visitors. Of the occurrences attended, 75% were from October to May and 25% from June to September. Olimpo is the trail with the highest number of occurrences, about 45%. For 2018 and 2019, the park received 56% of visitors going on their first time. According to the results, adopting preventive and educational information, consorting with technical and climatic criteria, can better triage and safeguard the environment, users, and rescuers more effectively.

Áreas protegidas são estratégias eficazes de preservação e conservação do patrimônio natural, desde que geridas de forma efetiva. A gestão participativa de uma unidade de conservação pode ser entendida como a administração equilibrada dos componentes técnicos e operacionais, o que compreende os recursos humanos, materiais e financeiros, além do levantamento e aproveitamento dos conhecimentos e habilidades das comunidades locais, no desenvolvimento de planos e estratégias, que visem o atingimento dos objetivos de conservação da área. Avaliar a gestão participativa de uma unidade de conservação é analisar sua capacidade de executar as ações relacionadas com seus objetivos de conservação e preservação. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a gestão do Parque Estadual do Monge, utilizando como ferramenta uma metodologia elaborada para analisar a efetividade da gestão participativa, considerando os principais instrumentos de participação social previstos na Lei do SNUC, consulta pública, plano de manejo e conselho gestor. Os resultados mostraram que o parque atingiu um percentual de 50,3% de efetividade de gestão participativa, o que indica que a unidade de conservação (UC) possui alguns recursos e meios para a gestão efetiva, porém faltam alguns elementos para se atingir o mínimo necessário, como por exemplo recursos financeiros e humanos, o que pode acarretar o descumprimento dos objetivos de conservação da área, não garantindo sua preservação a longo prazo.

Fire is a common disturbance in the Brazilian savanna (the cerrado), wherein high-frequency fires drive the vegetation structure, composition, function, and dynamics of savanna ecosystems. Under climate change pressure, further understanding of fire–vegetation relationships and interactions can provide new approaches for establishing integrated fire management strategies and can promote post-fire savanna vegetation recovery. To understand how 15 years of annually manipulated burning has affected vertical and horizontal structures of the vegetation, species composition and diversity metrics (species richness, Shannon’s diversity, and Pielou’s evenness), and aboveground carbon stocks, we surveyed all woody plant species with a diameter greater than three centimeters, in 15 plots of a typical Brazilian savanna (cerrado stricto sensu) at an experimental research station in central Brazil (the cerrado biome). The 15 plots (five plots per treatment) had been differently affected by fire events over a decade, and comprised three treatments: (i) annual fire, (ii) legacy fire (>15 years since the last fire event), and (iii) control (not burned in the past 30 years). A non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis indicated that fire had a significant effect on the species composition among the treatments; some species benefited from fire, such as Erythroxylum suberosum, whereas other species propagated better without fire, such as Roupala montana and Dalbergia miscolobium. Over a decade of annual fire events have led to decreases in Shannon’s diversity, species richness, and stem density, which were significantly lower in the annual fire treatment than in the control and legacy fire treatments. Stem density by diameter and height size classes (except for the 1–2 m class and above 8 m class) was higher in the control than that in the annual fire treatment, but the number of dead trees did not differ between the control and the annual fire treatment. Our results also showed that fire was a factor in changes in the evaluated parameters, such as in the annual fire treatment, where fire reduced the amount of biomass, and therefore the carbon stocks. This study suggests that, if burned yearly, typical Brazilian savannas can become less biodiverse in terms of woody plant species which negatively affects their fire resilience. Therefore, fire management practices should focus on determining the frequency of fire disturbances from which these ecosystems may benefit the most.

Analyses of the historical behavior of forest fires provide the basis for effective fire management programs. This descriptive research aimed to analyze when, where and why forest fires occurred in Santa Ana canton, Manabí province, Ecuador, during the period 2012-2018. The data were provided by the Fire Department of that locality. The analysis was carried out considering a spatiotemporal context (years, months, days of the week, localities and vegetation cover). Statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS Statistics for Windows (version 22.0). A significance level of 0.05 was used. In the analyzed period, 91 losses were reported, corresponding to the year 2016 the highest percentage (38.46 %). From July to January 94.50 % of the total number of fires were recorded, associated with low rainfall and increased use of fire by farmers to clear the land. During the day, the highest number of events was recorded from 14:00 to 16:00 hours (27.47 %). In cases where the parish and vegetation cover were specified, the highest percentages corresponded to Ayacucho and weeds with 54.05 and 26.37 %, respectively. The work allowed to establish temporal and spatial patterns of fire occurrence and its causality, constituting an important and relevant contribution on when, where and why fires occur in the canton of Santa Ana, information that can be used by decision makers of integrated fire management activities.

A gestão participativa de uma unidade de conservação pode ser entendida como a coordenação equilibrada dos componentes técnicos, operacionais e dos recursos naturais da área e o gerenciamento desses componentes se faz juntamente com os atores sociais envolvidos direta ou indiretamente com a unidade de conservação. Avaliar a gestão participativa de uma unidade de conservação é analisar sua capacidade de executar as ações relacionadas com seus objetivos de conservação e preservação. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a gestão da Floresta Nacional do Assungui, utilizando como ferramenta a metodologia APAS, “Análise da Participação Social em Unidades de Conservação, elaborada para analisar a efetividade da gestão participativa, considerando os principais instrumentos de participação social previstos na Lei do SNUC, consulta pública, plano de manejo e conselho gestor. Os resultados mostraram que a unidade de conservação atingiu um percentual de 68,97% de efetividade de gestão, o que indica que a área possui uma gestão participativa moderadamente satisfatória, possuindo elementos mínimos para sua gestão, porém, com deficiências que dificultam o estabelecimento de uma base sólida para uma gestão participativa eficaz, o que pode ocasionar no descumprimento de alguns objetivos estabelecidos para a conservação da unidade.

Grasslands are one of the vegetation types most widely affected by wildfires in southern Brazil. It is a fire-dependent ecosystem and it is necessary to know the hourly fuel moisture variation for its management. The objective of this work is to fit Grass Fuel Moisture Code (GFMC) models to estimate the moisture content for the grassland of the State Park of Vila Velha, Paraná, Brazil. Data sampling to determine the hourly moisture content was performed during the winter of 2018 and divided into two campaigns of five days with stable weather conditions. Destructive samples were taken out for the sorption tests on climatic chambers to obtain the equilibrium moisture content and the time lag values. The fitted equilibrium moisture and time lag models were evaluated by residual distribution analysis, mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RSME) and coefficient of determination (R2). The fitted model performed better than the original GFMC model due to the obtained MAE, RSME and R2 values. The results showed that the fitted GFMC model is better to predict the fine fuel moisture for the region.

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Posterior reversible encephalopathy cases are increasingly being reported in patients affected by COVID-19, but the largest series so far only includes 4 patients. We present a series of 6 patients diagnosed with PRES during COVID-19 hospitalized in 5 Centers in Lombardia, Italy. 5 out of the 6 patients required intensive care assistence and seizures developed at weaning from assisted ventilation. 3 out of 6 patients underwent cerebrospinal fluid analysis which was normal in all cases, with negative PCR for Sars-CoV-2 genome search. PRES occurrence may be less rare than supposed in COVID-19 patients and a high suspicion index is warranted for prompt diagnosis and treatment.

As variáveis meteorológicas podem ser influenciadas por diversos fatores e sofrerem modificações de acordo com a posição atmosférica, altitude e composição da vegetação. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: a) caracterizar o comportamento da temperatura e umidade relativa do ar em diferentes altitudes; e b) verificar o efeito da altitude sobre essas variáveis. A área de estudo foi um trecho de FOD submontana em Guaraqueçaba, Paraná. Foram instaladas duas estações meteorológicas nas altitudes de 30 e 400 m (ambas na face Sul), que registraram dados de temperatura do ar e UR durante os meses de maio de 2017 a abril de 2018. A temperatura média do período variou de 20,63 (30 m) a 19,13 °C (400 m), sendo o gradiente de redução de temperatura com o aumento de altitude de 0,34 °C/ 100 m. A temperatura máxima registrada aos 30 m (34,57 °C) ocorreu em dezembro de 2017 e aos 400 m (30,85 °C) em novembro de 2017. As temperaturas mínimas absolutas ocorreram no mês de julho de 2017, sendo 3,67 (30 m) e 4,12 °C (400 m). A UR média aos 30 m de altitude foi de 99,2%, enquanto aos 400 m foi de 96%. A altitude não influenciou na temperatura e na umidade do ar na referida encosta, pois não houve diferença significativa entre as médias de amplitude diária das variáveis nas duas altitudes.

The Grassy-Woody Steppe region of Paraná, also known as “Campos Gerais”, covers approximately 20,000 km2 of the state, composing a phytogeographic zone with vegetation adapted to relatively dry environments. It presents high danger of fires, especially after the winter, when the dead fuel accumulation and the meteorological conditions favor the propagation of fire. The present study aimed to characterize the fine fuel material of this vegetation. The research was developed in the Private Natural Heritage Reserve “Caminho das Tropas” (coordinated UTMs 620334 and 7196739), located in Palmeira municipality, Brazil. Fuel collections were done in 35 points distributed in an area of 25 hectares, being carried out 4 samplings during a year in the seasons of autumn, winter, spring and summer. Three classes of fuels were considered for analysis: live fuel, dead fuel and miscellaneous. The average load of thin fuels obtained was 10,985 Mg.ha-1 (megagramm per hectare), which is within the range of values obtained by several authors for field vegetation, which can vary from 4.90 to 13.80 Mg.ha-1. The moisture content remained practically constant for living fuels in the four seasons of the year, while for the other classes the variations were more accentuated in the summer season. For the proportion of live fuel, dead fuel and miscellaneous in relation to the total fuel collected at each season, the dead fuel remained stable while the live fuel and the miscellaneous presented significant statistical differences. The results contribute to the knowledge of the fuel material of the Paraná steppe region, as well as, for the fire behavior evaluation to prevent or control fires that may occur in this vegetation.

Climate is the synthesis of meteorological elements observed during a long time and it has a close relationship with vegetation. Holdridge climatic classification defines representative life zones by different regions on Earth, which explain all these meteorological elements. Therefore, this study has aimed a classification of Rio Grande do Sul state according to Holdridge life zone system by seeking to compare with Köppen climate classification system and vegetation that occurs in the state. That was possible to calculate and determine the life zones for the 496 cities of the state by a minimal sequence of not continuous 25 years of rain and temperature data from 1950 to 1990. Thereby eight life zones were found for the state, which ones has detached: temperate moist forest (74,0%); temperate wet forest/moist forest (13,8%); temperate moist forest/wet forest (8,0%). Holdridge and Köppen relation has shown correlation above 90% in seven of the eight life zones found (87,5% of the state territory), predominantly with climatic type Cfa (humid subtropical, without dry season, with hot summer). Steppe and Steppe-Savanna regions got correlation of 100% with life zone temperate wet forest and its respective transition zones with temperate moist forest. Holdridge life zones system has shown an important tool for agriculture and forestry zoning in this state once there was a satisfied interaction while comparing with Köppen climate classification system and some phytogeographies.

In order to determine the potential energy of forest fuels in Pinus elliottii stands, we investigated the best season to collect fuel material considering fuel availability, moisture content, Higher Calorific Value (HCV) and immediate chemical composition, from the plots established and monitored during one year at Rio Negro Research station, Paraná state, Brazil. The year’s seasons (winter, summer, spring and autumn) were considered as experimental blocks while the diameter of the materials (AA, AB and AC) as treatments. These treatments were pre-defined in the following diameter classes: AA, in the upper layer; AB, in the intermediate layer; AC, in the lower layer, all materials up to 0,7 cm; and B, with material of 0.71 to 2.5 cm. The fuel material of all year’s seasons was collected in sub plots of 900 cm2, weighted in the field and taken to the laboratory of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) to carry out the rest of analyzes including: moisture on the dry basis, fuel availability, Higher Calorific Value (HCV) and immediate chemical composition. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test were performed to compare the differences between seasons and material classes. Together with low moisture content and greater fuel availability, the mean test showed that, for all material classes, the winter was the best season to collect forest fuel material of Pinus elliottii stands. The results also showed that, for immediate composition and HCV, the mean class AA and B were statistically superior than the other classes. The fuel loading had a considerable density of energetic (12,275.42.105 kcal. ha-1) for bioenergy conversion and utilization.

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the performance of Nesterov indexes and of Monte Alegre formula (FMA) in Lichinga environment (northern Mozambique) in order to suggest the best index to be used in this region. To do so, we used daily meteorological data (temperature, precipitation and relative humidity) and registration data of forest fire occurrences in a period of three years (2010 - 2012). Meteorological data were provided by the Mozambican Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique in Lichinga (IIAM-Lichinga), whereas the data base of fire occurrence record was provided by the Center for Monitoring and Control of Forest Fires (CCMIF) of the company Chikweti Forest of Niassa After that Then, fire danger indexes and the degree of daily danger were calculated for both indexes, where it was observed the predominance of very high degree of danger in almost every year, with a percentage of 52.65% for the FMA and 37.96% for Nesterov index. Along with values of Skill Score (SS) of 0.11 Percent Success (PS) of 44.82%, Nesterov index showed best performance for this region unlike FMA, that presented a weak performance with values of 0, 07 of SS and 35.62%of PS.

ABSTRACT The main aim of this study was to compare the historical profile of forest fires and to elaborate a risk zoning map for the regions of Londrina, Brazil, and Pisa, Italy in the period from 2005 to 2014. The records of fire occurrences were correlated with days of rain and temperature in the study areas. The results showed that 1,435 and 629 fires were recorded in the analyzed period, affecting areas of 3,220.4 and 1,550.8 ha in the regions of Londrina and Pisa, respectively. Data were then spaced in a risk zoning map. Fire occurrences and precipitation presented inverse correlation of 0.76 and 0.81 for Londrina and Pisa, respectively. Temperature showed direct correlation of 0.82 with fire occurrences for Pisa, and inverse correlation of 0.56 for Londrina. The analyzed data may serve as subside for planning fire prevention and combat activities.

As zonas de vida de Holdridge são baseadas nas relações entre precipitação, temperatura, pisos altitudinais e latitude, sendo úteis em aplicações ecológicas, particularmente em áreas tropicais. Objetivou-se com o presente estudo realizar a classificação do clima dos municípios do estado do Amazonas de acordo com as zonas de vida de Holdridge e compará-lo com a classificação de Köppen e de cobertura de vegetação original do estado. As comparações foram realizadas por meio de matrizes de confusão elaboradas com ferramentas de análise espacial. Os resultados indicaram biotemperaturas variando de 22,9 °C a 26,5 °C, se distribuindo de maneira crescente no sentido oeste para leste do estado. Foram encontradas cinco zonas de vida de Holdridge, sendo floresta úmida tropical basal e floresta úmida/floresta muito úmida tropical basal as mais relevantes, ocupando cerca de 85% da área do estado. Três zonas de vida corresponderam em 100% com a classificação climática Af conforme Köppen, sendo que as demais zonas de vida atingiram correspondências superiores a 75% com o mesmo tipo climático. Verificou-se que todas as zonas de vida se enquadraram nas vegetações ombrófila aberta, ombrófila densa e campinarana. Dessa maneira, o sistema de zonas de vida de Holdridge demonstrou-se uma ferramenta importante para a classificação do clima no estado, tendo correspondência com os mapas de vegetação e a classificação climática de Köppen.

Estudos de percepção ambiental contribuem para a utilização mais racional dos recursos naturais. Tais estudos têm importância para uma melhor compreensão da inter-relação entre o homem e o ambiente, sendo que uma das maiores dificuldades na proteção dos ecossistemas está na existência de diferentes percepções dos valores e da importância entre os indivíduos de culturas diferentes. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a percepção ambiental da população da cidade da Lapa em relação ao Parque Estadual do Monge, por meio da aplicação de questionários. Foram aplicados 96 questionários, tanto em dias da semana como no final de semana em duas ruas principais da cidade. Os resultados mostraram que 63,27% dos entrevistados não sabiam o que é uma unidade de conservação. Apesar de o município possuir quatro unidades de conservação, 69,39% não sabem da existência de tais áreas na cidade. Em relação ao Parque do Monge, 48% dos entrevistados afirmaram não saber qual é seu objetivo, e dos 52% que responderam saber qual o objetivo do parque, 22% afirmaram que a unidade tinha como única finalidade o turismo na cidade. Os dados obtidos mostraram o pouco entendimento da população sobre questões relacionadas à unidades de conservação e ao Parque Estadual do Monge.