Using Technology and Community Knowledge to Combat Fires: Laguna Lachua Sets an Example in Guatemala

agranelli3
Apr 28
3 min read

In Guatemala, wildfire season typically begins in February and peaks in March, lasting about three months. Many of these fires are often lit to clear land for planting or pasture, and as dry conditions worsen, they escape control and burn surrounding forests, threatening local ecosystems, biodiversity, water sources, and the livelihoods of communities.

Since 2001, Guatemala has lost around 250,000 hectares of tree cover from fires, and fire-driven deforestation has even accelerated in recent years. In early 2024, the country experienced one of its worst wildfire seasons in a decade. According to Guatemala's national emergency system, between April 2024 and April 2025, 1,499 high-confidence fire alerts were reported, with flames affecting more than 40,000 hectares of land. Forests in Huehuetenango, Petén, and Quiché were hit the hardest. By June, wildfires had reached parts of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, threatening one of Central America's largest remaining tropical rainforests.

We had the equipment. We had a trained team. We had the knowledge. That made all the difference.

Amid this national challenge, a success story emerged. In 2024, in Parque Nacional Laguna Lachuá, a protected area in the department of Alta Verapaz in Ixcán, EcoLogic and a team of community rangers responded to a series of forest emergencies: wildfires, illegal incursions, and the opening of unauthorized trails. These incidents, while unpredictable, were met with preparation. "We had the equipment. We had a trained team. We had the knowledge. That made all the difference," one ranger shared.

Tech for Rapid Response in Remote Forests

What made the Laguna Lachuá response effective was not just coordination but the use of technology.

Handheld radios kept teams connected in remote areas where phone signals fail. One ranger explained how vital they were: "During the fire, the radios were handy for communicating from one point to another since there is no phone signal in the park. They helped us coordinate and remain informed throughout the response."

On the other hand, drones provided essential visibility, helping EcoLogic team members and rangers locate fire hotspots and plan safe routes through dense, mountainous terrain. "The drone showed us where the fire really was," another ranger explained. "We couldn't reach it as quickly without that aerial view."

The team also relied on the Global Forest Watcher app, which delivers real-time satellite alerts when detecting heat anomalies. These alerts helped rangers anticipate fire activity and take action before flames could spread.

These tools helped the team identify and control twelve wildfire outbreaks before they could escalate, minimizing damage to ecosystems and lowering risk for local communities.

Community Knowledge Leads the Way

What sets these efforts apart is how local knowledge and leadership guided every action. Most of the park rangers are from nearby rural and Indigenous communities. They know the land. They recognize seasonal patterns. And they have the trust of the people who live alongside the forest.

We don't wait. We organize, we prepare, and we act.

EcoLogic's role has been to strengthen this capacity by equipping community members with tools, training, and consistent support. Firebreaks, cleared and maintained each year, proved vital for containment. Drones reduced response time. Radios improved safety and communication. But none of these would be effective without the local rangers who used these tools and knowledge with precision and care. "We don't wait," said one ranger. "We organize, we prepare, and we act."

A Local Model with National Relevance

In a year when Guatemala faced thousands of wildfires, the collaborative approach in Laguna Lachuá showed what's possible when local community members use technology empowered by local knowledge. Their end goal is not just protecting forests. It's protecting biodiversity, water systems, and community safety during growing climate pressure.

Models like Laguna Lachuá's can lead the way as Guatemala seeks stronger wildfire management systems. At EcoLogic, we remain focused on supporting a community-based approach across the region because we believe that real resilience is built from the ground up.

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