Different vegetation treatments were examined on four plots in three study sites. 1)Control (no action), 2)clearing, 3)clearing and planting, and 4)planting within the shrubland. (CEAM)
The forests and shrublands in Ayora experienced a series of disturbances in the past (such as deforestation and land use), which resulted in the degradation of the vegetation and the reduction of the resilience to fires. At present, there is a high fire incidence. Post-fire landscapes regenerated with a high and continuous fuel accumulation with few native resprouter species. Therefore appropriate vegetation management is crucial.
For management the major goals are to reduce the fuel load and its continuity and to increase the resilience of the vegetation to fires. Within this experiment carried out by CEAM (Centro de Estudios Ambientales del Mediterráneo, University of Valencia) different fuel management techniques were examined. They selected three study sites (Morera, Roñoso, Gachas) with a similar history of land use, vegetation composition, soil characteristics, and a typical post-fire scenario whith scarce occurrence of resprouter species. In each site, four plots were established to test the effect of the following management techniques: 1) control (no action), 2) clearing, 3) planting (within the shrubland) and 4) the combination of clearing and planting.
The main purpose of this experiment was to find out which management technique is the most appropriate to prevent fires and it was shown that the combination of selective clearing of fire-prone shrubs (fuel control) and planting of more resistant resprouter species can increase the resilience to fires and is therefore a suitable management practice. Compared to the other management techniques, there are some advantages. Clearing the vegetation (either by hand or mechanically) reduces the fire risk and enhances seedling establishment and growth. Furthermore, the cleared vegetation is chipped and applied in-situ as mulch, which protects the soil from erosion, reduces soil temperature and moisture loss, and enhances carbon conservation. Additionnally, selective clearing allows to preserve desired species and by planting resprouter species the natural processes can be accelerated. Once established, resprouter species persist for a long time which promotes an increase of the vegetation resilience.
In this documentation, only the combination of clearing and planting is evaluated since this action is considered as the most appropriate management practice.
In each study site, the experimental area covered about 5000m2 (3 plots of 1000m2 each, one plot of 2000m2). To test the effect of the combination of clearing and planting, a clearing machine was used to clear a plot of 1000 m2 in all three sites. The few resprouting individuals such as Juniperus oxycedrus and Quercus ilex and also some seeder trees such as Pinus halepensis and Pinus pinaster were left standing. The planting holes (0.35 m2) were created with a tractor using a backhoe. The slash and brush chips generated by the clearing were reused in the planting holes as mulch which resulted in ecological benefits.
In February 2003, native resprouters of late successional stages with a low amount of dead fuel were planted, such as Quercus ilex, Rhamnus alaternus and Pistacia lentiscus, all protected by a plastic tree shelter to prevent browsing.
The seedlings were grown for 8 months in a nursery in Santa Faz (Alicante) and then transferred to a nursery in La Hunde (Ayora) one month before planting. The Regional Forest Services of Valencia provided seeds as well.
The region of Ayora is mountainous with a dry subhumid climate (~380 mm annual rainfall). The risk of fire incidence is at its highest from June to September when there are adverse conditions like drought, high temperatures and strong winds (mainly the winds coming from central Spain, called “poniente”). The population density is very low and there are only few job opportunities (e.g. marginal agriculture, grazing, hunting, beekeeping). Most of the inhabitants work in the nuclear power plant. Forest management could be a source for jobs.
Lugar: Ayora, Spain, Valencia, España
No. de sitios de Tecnología analizados:
Difusión de la Tecnología: distribuida parejamente sobre un área (approx. < 0.1 km2 (10 ha))
¿En un área de protección permanente?:
Fecha de la implementación: hace menos de 10 años (recientemente)
Tipo de introducción
| Especifique insumo | Unidad | Cantidad | Costos por unidad (Euro) | Costos totales por insumo (Euro) | % de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras |
| Equipo | |||||
| machine use | ha | 1,0 | 3089,0 | 3089,0 | |
| tree shelters | ha | 1,0 | 945,0 | 945,0 | |
| Material para plantas | |||||
| seedlings | ha | 1,0 | 4587,0 | 4587,0 | |
| Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología | 8'621.0 | ||||
| Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología en USD | 11'650.0 | ||||
| Especifique insumo | Unidad | Cantidad | Costos por unidad (Euro) | Costos totales por insumo (Euro) | % de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras |
| Equipo | |||||
| machine use | ha | 1,0 | 446,0 | 446,0 | |
| Indique los costos totales para mantenecer la Tecnología | 446.0 | ||||
| Costos totales para mantener la Tecnología en USD | 602.7 | ||||
More grasses for animals (game and livestock) in the cleared areas
Animals (especially goats) eat everything but they like more young grasses than shrubs
Game/wildlife and livestock are better because there is an increase in fodder quantity and quality
Production increases because there is less competition between species and more species planted. The wood/timber generated by the clearing can be used for biomass, fertilizers, pellets, firewood. A part of the wood is chipped in-situ and applied as mulch
Bioenergy (biomass)
Less damage on the cultivated fields because the wild animals do not destroy the fields anymore and stay in the forest (because there is more grass available due to clearings).
People appreciate the visual impact of a cleared forest with a high species richness. It has a high aesthetic value and offers recreational opportunities. Since the planted species are more fire-resistant this value can be sustained.
People appreciate the visual impact of a cleared forest with a high species richness. It has a high aesthetic value and offers recreational opportunities. Since the planted species are more fire-resistant this value can be sustained.
Local people know about the importance of conservation of the area and really like to have the forest protected of wildfires. They will learn about the relationship of planting later-successional species and the reduction of the fire hazard.
Less fires result in a decrease of the destroyed area, less money will have to be invested in restoration or fire extinction. Farmers, hunters,honey producers will experience fewer losses. Wild animals remain in the forest (more grasses after clearing).
The clearing and planting could create more job opportunities for unemployed people. This is especially important during the current economic crisis.
Due to the mulch layer more moisture is stored in the soil and less water is lost by evaporation (the soil is covered).
More soil moisture because of less dense shrubland and mulch cover after clearing
Mulch layer
Less erosion because the soil is protected by a mulch layer.
Mulch layer protects the soil from crusting.
Reintroduction of native species which disappeared due to removal by humans in the past.
There might be more animals because of the fodder supply. Further, different species (e.g. birds) might be attracted by the reintroduced plant species.
Mono-plantations are bad for the propagation of a pest. After clearing there is a decrease in competition, plants are in healthier conditions,less prone to diseases.Weak plants are eliminated which reduces the risk of pests (always weak plants affected).
Carbon sequestration, and less fires because the fire-prone shrubs are removed and more fire-resistant trees and shrubs are prevalent
The fire risk is reduced in the long term because by clearing fire-prone and planting more fire-resistant species the vegetation is redirected towards later successional stages (ecosystem more resilient against fires).
Mulch layer
