Usurpers burn more than 700 hectares in Laguna Lachuá National Park and put biodiversity at risk

Laguna Lachuá National Park, in Alta Verapaz, is affected by a fire that remains active in one of the usurped areas of the reserve known as Quixpur, according to information provided by the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP).

CONAP also reported that last year The group of people who have invaded this area of ​​the park burned approximately 700 hectares of forest and currently extends cultivation areas, so it is estimated that there are currently more than 700 hectares consumed by this practice of agricultural expansion.

In addition, it is reported that, so far, staff and institutions in charge of conservation of protected areas, as well as fire mitigation, have had difficulty entering the place.

According to Conap, in the usurped area, which exceeds a cavalry, there are approximately 150 houses. The entity indicated that the corresponding complaints were filed before the Public Ministry (MP) about the usurpation of the protected area. Among the tests presented to the MP are images and photographs taken with drone and reports on the situation of the area. However, so far no eviction actions have been carried out against people who have invaded this area.

The official position of the Public Ministry on the procedure that has been given to these complaints was requested, but no response from the entity’s communication department was obtained.

More than a decade of usurpation

The CONAP report also indicates that currently the Laguna Lachuá National Park faces different problems that threaten biodiversity, mainly caused by 13 usurpations or illegal invasions within it.

The first usurpations and invasions were reported between 2009 and 2010.

It is estimated that the usurped areas total approximately 3 thousand hectares throughout the park, which represents 21% of the protected area.

Among the invaded areas are Yalcobé, Sectocpur, Sajobché, Michbilrixpu, La Unión, Sepichel, Monjón Zapotillo, Monjón Cuachil, Monjón Cocoa and the limit of the Tzetoc River, in the Quixpur River area, near Rocjá Pontilá.

Importance of Laguna Lachuá Park

Laguna Lachuá National Park, in Alta Verapaz, is one of the 341 areas that make up the Guatemalan System of Protected Areas (SIGAP).

Its importance is vital, since it constitutes the only protected remnant of the existing natural ecosystems before the land colonization process in the region of the North Transversal Strip, initiated in the 1970s.

CONAP data indicate that The park is a sanctuary and home of a diversity of species of flora, fauna and wildlifeas well as several endemic species threatened and in danger of extinction, such as the jaguar, the puma, the spider monkey, the saraguate monkey, the tapir, the wild boar, the tingling bear, the deer, the mapache and the tepezcuintle. It also houses important and coveted tree species such as cedar, mahogany, jocote frayle, rose, ant of ant and canxán, among others.

Conred attends the emergency in place

Regarding the active fire in the Laguna Lachuá National Park, the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) actively works on emergency care, according to Juan Laureno, spokesman for the institution.

He indicated that the emergency began last Monday and that Operational Personnel of the Conred System has been deployed to carry out mitigation tasks in the area.

Additionally, It was reported that five other fires are active: Four in the department of Petén and one in Izabal, which are also attended by institution personnel.

More than 450 brigades work in the mitigation of these fires that still remain active in the aforementioned points, said the Conred spokesman.

Liquidated fires

Until July 2, Conred reports that more than 1,607 fires have been liquidated throughout the national territory.

The report also indicates that March was the month with the highest number of accidents with 501, followed by April with 487.

It is estimated that some 7,385 hectares have been affected by the fires recorded throughout the country.

The department that reports more liquidated fires is Peténwith a total of 272 accidents that affected several municipalities.

Although forest fires have decreased, CONRED maintains monitoring for the attention of these emergencies, with the aim of protecting the life of the inhabitants, as well as the flora, fauna and natural heritage of the Guatemalans.

Given any emergency or fire, CONRED recommends citizens immediately report to number 119, indicating the exact location of the incident so that the necessary personnel and equipment can be deployed. He also advises not to try to combat the fire without the appropriate equipment or training and avoid entering the affected areas during and after the emergency, to prevent accidents.