Spatial and temporal wildfire variations within the Mid Zambezi protected areas

Wildfires in the Mid Zambezi protected areas, including Mana Pools National Park and adjacent safari zones, show pronounced clustering along highways, indicating significant anthropogenic influence. A study analyzing fire data from 2001 to 2022 found that early-season burning reduces the spatial extent of intense wildfires by over 90%, affecting a mean area of just 119 km² compared to late-season fires covering 1108 km² on average. The research used NASA's FIRMS active fire data and spatial analysis tools like QGIS and Getis-Ord Gi* statistic to map fire distribution, frequency, and hotspots. These findings highlight the critical role of early burning as a fire management strategy while emphasizing the need to reduce human encroachment and raise community awareness to mitigate wildfire risks in these UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Chakuya, J., Mugova, E. Y., Nyapundo, C. T., & Mangwanya, C. D. (2026). Spatial and temporal wildfire variations within the Mid Zambezi protected areas. Sustainable Environment, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2026.2708431