Living barriers of nopal and agave: protection against wildfires

Abstract

Living barriers of prickly pear and agave are not only part of our biocultural heritage, but also a nature-based solution to protect the environment. These plants, known for their water retention capacity, act as natural firebreaks, helping to prevent forest fires. Inspired by the un Sustainable Development Goals, we have created an infographic to show how these living barriers benefit communities: they generate employment, improve air quality, and promote biodiversity. We invite you to discover how nopal and agave living barriers can transform the way we protect and care for our environment, promoting sustainability and resilience in our communities.

In our infographic, we have drawn on the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda to highlight the multiple benefits provided by prickly pear cactus and agave living fences. We have identified 12 goals detailing the valuable services these living barriers provide, and have focused our attention on their outstanding fire retardant capacity. This is possible given their high water content at the tissue level and a skin, which at least in the case of nopal, tolerates 250 degrees Celsius (Vargas-Rodriguez et al, 2023). In particular, these aspects are highlighted in Agenda 2030 goals 1, 11, 13 and 15, which occupy a priority place in our infographic. It is relevant to mention that there is a notable scarcity of works, both in the field of dissemination and scientific research, that focus on this specific function of living barriers, as firebreaks.

We strongly believe that these living barriers represent a nature-based solution that can address a variety of problems, reducing exposure to risk in a context of global warming. In addition to their ability to prevent wildfires, they also play a key role in mitigating other socio-environmental disasters, such as landslides and floods. Their ability to stabilize and improve soil and control erosion, as well as their ability to retain and gradually release moisture, are essential elements in the management of these risks and agriculture, making them a valuable tool for resilience and sustainability in our communities and landscapes.