Tragic Fire in Madeira
Though in
some ecosystems, forest fires can be a necessary element of the ecology, fires
are often devastating events that can destroy the homes of humans as well as
wildlife. Tragically, Seacology's project in Madeira recently suffered the
effects of a forest fire, as seen in the photos below.
Madeira is a small island in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Formed by an underwater volcano, it was discovered by Portuguese explorers in the fourteenth century and has been under the jurisdiction of Portugal ever since. Originally covered with lush forests (Madeira means "wood" in Portuguese), much of the island was cleared for farming. Today, only a few forested areas remain. In 2001, Seacology began collaborating with the Ecological Park of Funchal, located near the island's capital city. Park officials at the 1,000-hectare park were working to reforest its highest mountain, Pico de Arreiro, which had been adversely affected by erosion and deforestation. The project solicited hundreds of volunteers to replant a 12-acre area with indigenous tree species. Tragically, this entire area has now been devastated by the fires.
Below, left, the park prior to the fire. At right, the park after being burned.
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Though much
of Portugal has been ravaged by wildfires this season due to heat and high
winds, it is believed that the fire that affected Funchal was caused by arson.
Seacology received a letter from Raimundo Quintal, President of the Association
of Friends of the Ecological Park of Funchal, which described the deathly
stillness that has come over the region where the majority of plants have been
burned to the ground, leaving surviving animals to seek out new homes. A
translated version of part of his letter from August 14, 2010 is below:
Unfortunately, between 2 and 4 in the
morning the fire destroyed almost everything. The house
was destroyed. Many thousands
of small plants disappeared completely. The vast
blanket of heather and the growing vines saw only the remaining skeletons
between the blocks of black basalt. The
butterflies and birds flit
disoriented in a landscape where this morning hung the silence of death.
Witnessing years of effort and habitat recovery destroyed overnight is truly heartbreaking, and we can only imagine what the many staff and volunteers at Funchal are experiencing. Our thoughts are with them as they process this tragedy and begin again with a plan for recovery. The blog for the Association of Friends of the Ecological Park of Funchal can be found here, in Portuguese: http://bisbis.blogspot.com/
