A novel approach to reduce fire exposure and promote nature conservation in Mediterranean ecosystems: the case study of Reserva Natural da Serra da Malcata, Portugal

Mestrado Mediterranean Forestry and Natural Resources Management - Instituto Superior de Agronomia - UL

In Portugal, wildfires represent a major concern that yearly produces numerous economic and environmental losses. Currently, there is a continuous increase of biomass accumulation which increases wildfire risk into Mediterranean protected areas due to lack of management. An example is the protected area of Serra da Malcata, where prescribed burning has been implemented. However, fuel treatments implementation within preserved areas remains quasi forbidden in the major cases. The main objective is to develop and asses a novel approach to reduce fire exposure and simultaneously promote conservation habitat within Natura 2000 Habitats of Reserva Natural da Serra Malcata. For this aim, fire exposure assessment of three different fuel management scenarios: current situation, planned treatments and low intense treatments within Habitat Natura 2000 promoting conservation goals, were done by using burn probability modelling under extreme conditions for 24h burn period. Results showed similar performance of conservation enhancement scenario if compare with planned treatment scenario. Nevertheless, biggest fire exposure reductions were observed within Natura 2000 network. Limitations and assumptions derived from input parameters, model validation or fire simulator could affect fire exposure results. However, results open the debate to include fuel treatments within protected areas for achieving medium- and long-term fire risk reduction