Kruger National Park prepares for fire season
Veld-fires are a natural and common occurrence in KNP and the park uses fire as a land management tool.
The Kruger National Park (KNP) has recently announced their management plans for the current fire season which usually takes place between June and October. As part of the savanna biome, KNP is dependent on fires to maintain a healthy ecosystem. As the veld has started drying up this winter, KNP has management actions in place for the current fire season.
“Last year, nearly 20% of the park burnt due to very high amounts of grass which accumulated as a result of the high rainfall experienced during the 2020/21 summer months. “For the last few years, less than 10% of the park would burn on average. “Following another year of substantial rainfall in KNP, we are anticipating another year where 15% or 300 000 ha of the park may burn.
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“Majority of these burns will be part of our controlled burning programme conducted by our Rangers for ecological reasons. “However, we do also anticipate the likelihood of unplanned fires in the coming months but these will be managed as and when they occur by our trained and equipped personnel” explained KNP’s abiotic scientist, Tercia Strydom.
Proactive use of fire in a fire-driven landscape such as KNP is important in order to limit the risk of large, unwanted wildfires later in the dry season. As such, Kruger has already begun burning early season fires to break up the grass layer as well as burning and grading firebreaks around key infrastructure such as camps, staff facilities and the KNP border in order to reduce the risk of unwanted fires.
“We encourage tourists to be fire-wise when visiting the park. “Only make fires in designated braai areas and do not leave it unattended, especially on a hot, windy day. “If you happen to drive past a veld-fire in the park, please drive slowly and put on your lights if visibility is obscured. “If you suspect that a fire is unattended and do not see personnel on site, please report to the nearest camp and section ranger,” concluded Strydom.
