A total of 326 forest fires were reported in Cuba between January and May of this year, causing damage to over 2,787 hectares of forests, according to data from the Cuerpo de Guardabosques.
Adverse Weather Conditions
During the first five months of 2024, April and May saw the highest numbers of fires—220 in total—where historically March and April have been the months with the most incidents and areas damaged, according to a note from the official newspaper Granma. This was due to adverse meteorological conditions influenced by the El Niño phenomenon, which ranged from moderate to strong.
Climatological factors present from March to May also played a role, as the rainy season “maintained precipitation levels below their normal values across the national territory, primarily in the western and central regions,” the report explained.
Regions Most Affected
Pinar del Río was the province with the highest number of fires: 90. Other heavily affected areas included the special municipality Isla de la Juventud (46), Holguín (34), and Matanzas (30).
Cuban authorities attributed more than 95% of the fires to human negligence. These included burns for various purposes (28%), the irresponsibility of smokers and passersby (26%), vehicles with technical defects in their exhaust systems (17%), illegal fishing and hunting (15%), and the castration of illegal beehives (6%).
According to official statistics from the 2024 Forest Fire Protection Campaign, 86.48% of the fires in the first five months of 2024 were controlled before they reached five hectares. However, authorities warned that “there are conditions of danger for the occurrence of large-scale forest fires in certain regions of the country,” and appealed for prevention to avoid them.
Significant Incidents
At the end of May, two major forest fires in the municipality of San Juan y Martínez in Pinar del Río damaged around 545 hectares of forest.
In January, another large fire consumed protected forest areas in the localities of Tres Fiebres in Moa and Alto de Cruzata, Yateras, belonging to the Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt (PNAH) in the provinces of Holguín and Guantánamo, respectively.
From January to May 2023, Cuba recorded 613 forest fires, which affected 13,980 hectares of forest and 489.5 hectares of swamp grasslands.
Frequently Asked Questions about Forest Fires in Cuba
Below are some common questions and answers about the recent increase in forest fires in Cuba.
What caused the increase in forest fires in Cuba in 2024?
The increase in forest fires was primarily due to adverse meteorological conditions influenced by the El Niño phenomenon, combined with below-average rainfall during the rainy season.
Which regions in Cuba were most affected by forest fires?
The most affected regions were Pinar del Río, Isla de la Juventud, Holguín, and Matanzas.
What percentage of the fires were caused by human negligence?
More than 95% of the fires were attributed to human negligence, including irresponsible burns, smoking, defective vehicle exhaust systems, illegal fishing and hunting, and illegal beehive castration.