Impacto de las técnicas de uso de fuego en la severidad de incendios en las áreas habitadas por los indígenas Puruhás

Abstract

Abstract: This study analyzed the impact of traditional fire use techniques by the Puruhá indigenous people on wildfire severity in Alausï canton, Chimborazo, Ecuador. Semi-structured interviews were applied to community members and remote sensing methods were used to evaluate fire climate and severity during the years 2021-2024, employing the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR). The results demonstrate that 91.5% of the Puruhá use the páramo for agricultural production and 60.6% continue with traditional controlled burning practices. These are carried out annually following an ancestral calendar, especially at the end of the rainy season, generating low-severity fires that benefit ecosystems by improving soil fertility and promoting vegetation regrowth for grazing. 83.1% of respondents have never lost control of their burns, evidencing the effectiveness of ancestral knowledge transmitted generationally. This work contributes to the recognition of integrated fire management and provides scientific foundations for including indigenous knowledge in public policies for ecosystem management and wildfire prevention.