Drivers and Spatial Patterns of Burned Area in High-Andean Páramos
Abstract
Páramos, high-mountain tropical ecosystems, are crucial for carbon storage and water regulation for many Andean cities. However, they are subjected to wildland fires that threaten the ecosystem services they provide. Fire activity varies substantially among páramos, making it essential to understand the drivers of this spatial variability. This study evaluates the relative influence of anthropogenic and biophysical factors on fire occurrence in Colombian páramos, analyzing burned area data from 2000 to 2022 using a Random Forest model. Results indicate that fire occurrence is shaped by the interaction between human pressures and biophysical characteristics. Annual precipitation was the most influential predictor: areas with lower mean annual precipitation (
Fields of Study & Subjects
Fire effects on ecosystems
Public Health and Environmental Issues
Disaster Management and Resilience
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Fire
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 95–95
- Publication date
- 24 February 2026
- Language
- EN