Fire in Minas National Park, Brazil! Spread to new season coffee

According to media reports, in the center of the Brazilian state of Milas Gerais, the fire in the Serrado Serra do Cip ó national park near the state capital Belo Horizonte has entered its fourth day and is still spreading.

It is reported that Serrado Sibo Park, a national park in Brazil, was established in 1984 and covers an area of 33800 hectares. the park is famous for protecting a variety of endangered Brazilian animal and plant species.

According to the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), 478 hectares of land have been destroyed by the fire. At present, 16 firefighters, volunteers and five fire engines are trying to put out the flames, but because some areas are difficult to access and need to be supported by helicopters and aircraft, firefighters are conducting an aerial survey of the area. There are more fires scattered throughout the park, and strategies and action plans to deal with the fire will be developed.

According to firefighters, the fire has been spreading since Aug. 18, destroying vegetation in Serrado Xibo Park. It is now inferred that the fire was man-made and may have come from a nearby highway, which spread rapidly due to the recent dry weather in the state. According to reports, on the 19th, Brazil's National Meteorological Institute issued a low humidity orange hazard alert for the states of Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais and Bahia.

In addition, according to the current situation, the fire affected not only the Serrado Sibo Park, but also a number of areas nearby, including the Espinasso Valley (Vale do Espinha ç o) and Mount Morro da Pedreira nature reserve. To this end, the park began to be closed to the public on August 19, and there is no scheduled time for reopening.

It is understood that the area where the fire broke out is the Brazilian state of Milas Gerais, which is the main producing area of Brazilian coffee, accounting for 30% of the total coffee production in Brazil. The fire is mainly in Serrado Xibo National Park. Due to the rich natural resources nearby, there are also many coffee farms around the area, which may be affected.

The spread of the fire may directly burn the coffee trees, resulting in the death or damage of the coffee trees, thus affecting the quality and yield of coffee. And the soil may also be damaged by fire, resulting in the decline of soil fertility, which is not conducive to growth. In addition, it will also affect the ecological environment of coffee growing areas and further affect the growth environment of coffee trees.

However, as of Aug. 13, Brazil had harvested 96 per cent lower coffee production in the new season, with Robsta coffee harvest completed and Arabica coffee harvest 94 per cent, according to Safras, a Brazilian consultancy.

Therefore, the fire may have little impact on this new season, but it will affect the coffee production in the new season in 2024. Due to the fire, the poor quality of the climate and environment in that area, coupled with the current low humidity, is not conducive to the growth of coffee trees, and the upcoming La Nina weather may further affect the climate of Brazil, and production is expected to decline in the new season next year.

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