HISTORICAL PROFILE OF THE BURNED AREAS BASED ON MODIS PRODUCTS IN THE CONSERVATION UNITS OF CEARÁ – BRAZIL

Abstract

Forest fires represent a threat to Conservation Units (CUs) in Brazil, affecting biodiversity and ecosystems. Studying the fire profile is crucial to develop effective prevention and combat strategies. The aims of this study is to understand the historical profile of burned areas in the CUs of Ceará, using MODIS data from 2001 to 2022. Geoprocessing tools were used to generate statistics, including the number of burned areas, the total affected area, the annual and monthly distribution, the size, and the frequency of fires. The main results indicated 1006 burned areas covering 28854.39 hectares, with the federal APA Chapada of Araripe and APA Serra of Ibiapaba leading with 87.49% of the total affected area. The state APA Serra de Baturité stood out with 634.83 hectares burned. The APA Chapada of Araripe recorded yearly burns, with 2005 being the most impactful. In the second half of the year, the largest areas were burned, especially in October, November, and December. Most fires (80.62%) were Class III (4.1 - 40.0 ha), and the APA Serra of Ibiapaba had recurring fires in the same area up to 5 times, totaling 11505.76 hectares. The results aim to contribute to the understanding of forest fires in the CUs of Ceará, northeastern Brazil.