The forests in the Ayora region experienced a huge disturbance in the past, such as deforestations, removal of key species, land abandonment, dense growth of fire-prone seeder species (high continuity of dead standing fuel), missing management, wildfires and dense afforestations. These disturbances resulted in the degradation of the vegetation, the reduction of the resilience of the ecosystem against fires and thus an increasing risk of wildfires. After fires, many landscapes regenerated with a high and continuous fuel accumulation with few native resprouter species, which made it extremely difficult to control forest fires. The dense growth not only increased the risk of wildfires but also the competition between different species (nutrients, light, space). Therefore appropriate vegetation management to increase the resilience of the ecosystem to fires and to reduce competition is crucial.
These problems are approached by selective forest clearing. The main purposes of thinning dense pine forests are the prevention of fires by reducing the fuel load and its continuity, and to improve pine regeneration by eliminating the competition between different species. As a result, the quality of the plants is improved and the amount of dead or sick plants is reduced, which is essential to ensure a healthy forest. This also leads to a higher resistance to pests which in turn again decreases the risk of fire (less dead plants). Vegetation removal produces fresh vegetation growth, therefore more diverse and nutritious fodder is provided to animals (game and livestock) in the cleared areas which is a benefit for herders. Also wild animals use this fodder supply which in turn hinders them to destroy cultivated fields of the farmers. Furthermore, honey producers make use of the enhanced growth of shrubs and the additional space created by selective clearing to place their beehives and to increase honey production.
Especially during the current economic crisis forest management is an important source for jobs - most of the workers were unemployed before working in the selective clearing. Through the clearings, fuelwood is gained and offered to retired people for free for cooking and heating, allowing them to save money. Additionally, almost all villagers like to have a cleared forest due to its high aesthetic and recreational value.
In order to be selective and to preserve desired species, the clearing is done with small machines such as brushcutters and chainsaws. On average the forest is thinned until reaching a density of 800-1200 trees/ha. Species such as Juniperus, Rhamnus al., Quercus rotundifolia, Quercus faginea or Fraxinus ornus are not removed which increases the probability to have a more fire-resistant vegetation composition in future. Dead or sick plants and also a part of fire-prone shrubs such as Ulex parv. and Cistus alb. are removed. If there are both Pinus pinaster and Pinus halepensis. Pinus halepensis is cleared because they compete with each other. The roots are not removed which ensures the stability and productivity of the soil. The remaining species are pruned (“poda”) until a maximum height of 2.5m to improve the conditions of the species. Around each tree they should clear an area of 2m.
After felling trees and shrubs a part of the residues is chipped in-situ and covers the soil as mulch, which results in ecological benefits (e.g. increase in soil moisture, prevention from erosion, enhancement of nutrient cycling, reduction of the soil surface temperature).
If the slope is steep, it takes more time to do the clearing and it might also increase the risk of erosion afterwards. Under the best conditions (e.g. good access and terrain), 0.8ha per day are cleared (calculated for a group of 9 persons working 7 hours). In this case the costs are paid by the municipal council, which receives a part of the money from the rental fee paid by the wind mill company. The cleared areas have to be maintained depending on the speed of the vegetation growth (which amongst others depends on the soil, slope and humidity). If the clearings are done regularly, it takes less time and it is cheaper than the first clearing. It should be noted that recurrent maintenance is crucial to ensure the effectiveness of the technology.
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.
Байршил: Ayora/Jarafuel, Spain, Valencia, Испани
Дүн шинжилгээнд хамрагдсан технологи нэвтрүүлсэн газрын тоо:
Технологийн тархалт: газар дээр жигд тархсан (approx. 0.1-1 км2)
Тусгай хамгаалалттай газар нутагт?:
Хэрэгжилтийн огноо: <10 жилийн өмнө (саяхны)
Нутагшууллын төрөл
Зардлын нэр, төрөл | Хэмжих нэгж | Тоо хэмжээ | Нэгжийн үнэ (Euro) | Зардал бүрийн нийт өртөг (Euro) | Нийт дүнгээс газар ашиглагчийн төлсөн % |
Хөдөлмөр эрхлэлт | |||||
labour | ha | 1.0 | 404.0 | 404.0 | |
Тоног төхөөрөмж | |||||
machine use | ha | 1.0 | 2024.0 | 2024.0 | |
Технологи бий болгох нийт үнэ өртөг | 2'428.0 | ||||
Технологи бий болгох нийт үнэ өртөг, ам.доллар | 3'281.08 |
Зардлын нэр, төрөл | Хэмжих нэгж | Тоо хэмжээ | Нэгжийн үнэ (Euro) | Зардал бүрийн нийт өртөг (Euro) | Нийт дүнгээс газар ашиглагчийн төлсөн % |
Тоног төхөөрөмж | |||||
machine use | ha | 1.0 | 446.0 | 446.0 | |
Технологийн арчилгаа/урсгал үйл ажиллагаанд шаардагдах нийт үнэ өртөг | 446.0 | ||||
Технологи арчилах ба урсгал ажлын нийт үнэ өртөг, ам.доллар | 602.7 |
Vegetation removal produces fresh growth. More grasses available for animals (game and livestock) in the cleared areas.
The new growth provides more diverse and nutritious fodder 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 (nutrients,light,space). 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.
Honey (bees can fly better), hunting, wood/timber
There are more opportunities to place the beehives
A part of the cleared vegetation is used for 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).
A cleared forest has a higher value–e.g. a “finca” with an exclusive right for hunting earns more because there are more animals (more fodder), or because it is easier to shoot animals (less possibilities to hide). Each killed animal has to be paid.
The establishment and the maintenance is expensive because the work has to be done manually (manual machines)
Villagers of Jarafuel receive fuelwood gained by clearings for free (from municipal council).
If there is no money provided by the state the clearings cannot be executed. This constitutes a high risk for forest workers because they never know if they will loose their jobs
Forest workers earn money to buy food, otherwise they would depend on unemployment pay and thus put pressure on the state.
Improved air quality by reducing forest fires
People appreciate the visual impact of a cleared forest. It has a high aesthetic value and offers recreational opportunities.
People appreciate the visual impact of a cleared forest. It has a high aesthetic value and offers recreational opportunities.
Local people know about the importance of conservation of the area and really like to have the forest protected of wildfires
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).
More jobs for unemployed, this is especially important during the current economic crisis
Through the clearings it is easier to control fires and protect people. Furthermore it created jobs for the unemployed. In general forest management is not something people want to do, they work in this sector only if there are no other job opportunities. Forest management means a hard job and this kind of work is not well-respected in society.
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 forest/shrubland and mulch cover after clearing
Mulch layer
Mulch layer protects the soil from crusting
By clearing the competition between species is reduced but the forest agent told me that there are not more species, the same species grow again. But maybe there is more space for dispersal of seeds by birds.
There might be more animals because of the fodder supply
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)
less emissions because there is less burnt vegetation
By clearing the forest the vertical and horizontal connectivity of the vegetation is interrupted and the amount of fuel is reduced.
When fire removes less vegetation then the soil is less prone to flooding
When fire removes less vegetation then the soil is less vulnerable to erosion
Forest fire frequency and intensity and the associated damages are reduced