Ya’axche Records Worst Wildfires in Toledo District  

According to Estevan Asi, the increased temperatures and changes in climate, are the worst he has ever seen in all his years in agriculture.  Asi also works with the Ya’axche Conservation Trust.

 

Estevan Asi Jr., Ya’axche Conservation Trust

“We responded to communities in Trio, San Miguel, Silver Creek, Columbia.  We had community leaders approaching us because we do have some capacity in fire management, so we were able to also send out a team out there.  We had adequate resources such as the bladder bag, the flappers that helped us in controlling these fires.  Of course, everything was togetherness, we worked collectively to ensure that at the end of the day we controlled most of the fires that were spreading. So, for this year, the fire was really devastating.  I’ve worked in agriculture for some time but I can say, because of the increased temperatures and changes in climactic conditions, this year was really devastating.  We even have a number of farmers within our farmer network that have lost their farms.  So we’re talking about cacao, corn, beans and other diversified crops within their farms.  Also, you had some farmers that lost their animals, small animals and a few homes were burnt.”