Eucalyptus, pine and gorse cover the Andean mountain range bordering the east of Bogota, where four wildfires have broken out in the past week.
These trees and shrubs contain oils and saps that are very flammable, and "help maintain the fire for hours and even days," said biologist Arnold Garcia Samaca, of the National University of Colombia.
Additionally, fire helps them reproduce and "they take over larger areas, displacing native vegetation."
Amid hot, dry conditions linked to the weather phenomenon El Nino, fires have devastated more than 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) across Colombia over the past three months, the authorities say.
Eucalyptus trees, almost all of which are native to Australia, and the European pine, were introduced in Bogota at the start of the 20th century, as urban growth fueled demand for wood.
The common gorse shrub, native to much of western Europe, was planted in the 50s in a bid to halt soil erosion. The Bogota's mayor's office said it has since been declared one of the "100 most aggressive and invasive species in the world" and is "a threat to biodiversity."
Bogota authorities have removed more than 130 hectares of gorse in the past four years -- no easy task in the hard-to-access areas in which it grows.
Jose A. Munoz, who works with the Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Modeling Laboratory (Ecolmod), said the underlying problem was authorities seeking the "fastest route" to control deforestation and other issues.
"Planting for the sake of planting is never going to be the solution," he said.
The environmental authority which manages the mountain range, the Regional Autonomous Corporation (CAR) of Cundinamarca, told AFP it would put in place a reforestation plan using local species such as cedar, encenillo, and white rosemary.
On Saturday, Bogota closed some 40 parks and hiking trails due to heavy smoke from the wildfires.
Authorities have recommended that residents remain inside as much as possible and wear masks if they must go out.
Bogota closes dozens of parks as fires rage in Colombia
Bogota (AFP) Jan 27, 2024 -
Colombian capital Bogota has closed some 40 parks and hiking trails due to heavy smoke from wildfires raging in the area, the mayor's office announced Saturday.
Following an air-quality alert, the parks will remain closed through the weekend, the office said on X, the former Twitter.
A mountain range bordering the city of 8 million to the east has seen at least four wildfires break out since Monday. Most are now under control, but at least one reached within a few hundred meters (yards) of the popular El Paraiso neighborhood.
Amid hot, dry conditions linked to the weather phenomenon El Nino, fires have devastated more than 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) across Colombia over the past three months, the authorities say.
As the country suffers through record heat, the Environment Ministry says at least 20 fires are still active, affecting forests, farmland and the mountain ecosystems that provide water to lower altitudes.
With thick smoke degrading air quality in Bogota, the authorities are urging residents -- who enjoy hiking and biking on weekends -- to stay inside as much as possible and wear masks if they must go out.
The office of Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan said he was studying whether he might have to issue mandatory restrictions on citizens' movements.
Over 17,000 hectares destroyed in Colombia forest fires
Bogota (AFP) Jan 27, 2024 -
Forest fires have destroyed more than 17,000 hectares in Colombia since November, authorities said Friday, as the country faces its hottest January in decades.
More than 340 fires have been recorded in that period, spurred by prolonged drought, record heat, and the El Nino weather phenomenon, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad said, adding that 26 fires were still blazing.
Colombia has been battling several fires near the capital since Monday, including some in the mountains overlooking Bogota, and authorities have advised residents living close to burnt areas to avoid going outside because of the poor air quality.
"Today, we have a fire in the Nevada del Cocuy," a natural park with snow-capped peaks about 250 kilometres (155 miles) northeast of Bogota, Muhamad told a news conference.
She added that the flames were at a "quite high" point in the park, so a helicopter had been deployed to assess the situation.
- Smoke in Bogota -
One of the fires is burning about 900 metres from Bogota's eastern El Paraiso neighbourhood.
Some residents affected by the smoke were being treated, the Colombian Red Cross in Bogota wrote on social media platform X, alongside photos of emergency workers helping a man wearing a facemask.
President Gustavo Petro this week declared a natural disaster, allowing funds to be diverted from other budget items towards containing the blazes, and appealed for international aid.
Bogota's El Dorado international airport returned to normal operations on Friday after restrictions the previous day affected 138 flights.
This month is shaping up to be the hottest January in 30 years, according to Ghisliane Echeverry, director of the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies in Colombia.
Echeverry warned February could see even higher temperatures, and only in March will rains help to "mitigate" the consequences of the extreme heat.
Authorities are investigating whether arsonists are causing some of the fires, and police have arrested 26 people for "fire-related offences".
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