Veldt fires a threat to environment What are veldt fires?

burning are increasing due to human activities.
It is a fact that the damage from these fires has grown to outweigh the benefits of fire on the ecosystem.
Frequent burning has implication on carbon stocks and emissions, wildlife habitat, human health and life as well as livelihoods.
Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 as read with the Environmental Management Act (CAP 20:27) says no person is allowed to light a fire outside residential and commercial premises during the period July 31 to October 31 of each year.
The causes of veldt fires
There are several factors that cause veldt fires but most are human ignitions resulting from reckless disposal of lit cigarette stubs, smoking out of bees for honey harvesting and lighting fires at road servitudes whist waiting for early morning buses.
Other causes are land clearing, hunting, deliberate lighting of fires/arson, children playing with matches and improper household ash disposal.
Effects of veldt fires
Veldt fires lead to severe environmental degradation. More specifically, veldt fires reduce land cover thus exposing the land to agents of accelerated soil erosion, changes in the hydrological cycle, increase in overland flow or surface run off and modifications in various ecological processes.
Soil erosion leads to the siltation of rivers and dams, thus reducing their water carrying capacity.
This is likely to induce floods in low-lying areas. Veldt fires destroy plantations, crops and pastures.
In Zimbabwe, it is now commonly agreed that veldt fires are a single significant threat to national economic recovery plans as they are destroying not only pastures necessary for the restocking exercise, but they are also destroying foreign currency generation plantations.
Food security may be compromised as the last few years have seen fires burning wheat farms, maize fields among other valuables.
How do l know that a fire might occur? July to October is normally your dry season where you experience very hot conditions and there is a lot of potential fuel (e.g. dry leaves, wood, dead plants and grass).
You can clearly see long dry grass and plants and there are moderate to strong winds present.
Veldt fires and stakeholders
Each person or institution has a role to play in the fight against veldt fires and the following can be of importance to prevent veldt fires, destruction of the environment as well as loss of life and property.
Schoolchildren
In the event that schoolchildren come across fire they should quickly report the incident to any nearby adult person.
They should not attempt to cross over fire, “crossing over fire may result in fatalities”.
They should not try to extinguish a veldt fire on your own. They should move away from the veldt fire and never ever try to climb trees in the direction of a veldt fire
Bus passengers
Travelling can at times be done during odd hours when the weather is very cold especially in the rural areas. These conditions make passengers make a fire at the bus stop for warmth. Therefore, before leaving:
Make sure you completely extinguish the fire before leaving and ensure all the glowing splints and burning coal are completely extinguished using water.
Put on warm clothes because history has shown that most road fires are left unattended.
Bee smokers
Use other methods of extracting honey, which does not involve use of fire. Seek advice from Forestry Commission.
Motorists
Put off cigarette stubs and use ashtrays. Assist in fire fighting and always travel with a fire extinguisher.
Service car electrical and mechanical systems to avoid sparks, which can cause veldt fires.
Traditional leaders
Have firefighting teams to put out uncontrolled veldt fires in your areas of jurisdiction.
Carry out fire awareness campaigns throughout the fire season and use cultural ways of punishing those who cause veldt fires.
Rural District Councils
Establish an environmental committee to oversee environmental issues and establish environmental sub-committees, which are chaired by a councilor in a given ward or wards.
Appoint an environmental monitor in the district in conjunction with EMA and ensure that there are fire-fighting committees in these various wards. Report all veldt fire incidences within 7 working days to EMA or ZRP.
What Farmers/Property owners
need to know?
Fire prevention is the best option to minimise risks associated with veldt fires. This can be achieved through establishment and maintenance of fireguards.
Fireguards are designed to provide access and a safe environment for the fire fighting teams to implement controlled burning and effectively manage wildfires.
The existing roads and tracks also provide the foundation to implement fire management activities.
Construct standard fireguards, which are at least nine metres wide on boundaries, and internal fireguards, which should be at least 4,5m wide.
Fireguards can be constructed by ploughing using ox-drawn ploughs or tractors, disking, and hoeing.
Reduction of veldt fire management is therefore, everyone’s responsibility, so play your part.