Plan of preventive silviculture (PSP): implementation of firebreak network within a forest intervention area (ZAU) (Espanha)

Through the declaration of Ayora to a forest intervention area (ZAU) and the implementation of the pilot project of the PSP, a preventive silviculture was promoted through the establishment of a firebreak network.

Aims / objectives: Forest fire is the main degradation driver in Ayora. In the article 24 of the forest law 3/1993 the declaration of special areas to forest intervention areas, so-called “Zonas de Actuación Urgente (ZAU)” through the regional government of Valencia is defined. Objectives are the protection against natural hazards and the promotion of conservation/restoration within a area which is degraded, affected by a forest fire (and natural regeneration is not probable), adverse climatic conditions, pests, severe ecological change, or fauna or flora of special value. If the use of the resources is not compatible with the conservation objectives within a ZAU, the administration has the right to enforce restrictions. The Ayora region was declared to a ZAU in 1997 due to its high risk of fires. In the “Plan de Selvicultura Preventiva de Incendios en los Sistemas Forestales (PSP)” (“plan of preventive silviculture to prevent forest fires”) which became operative in 1996 and whose main objective is the reduction of the fire risk, the ZAU was practically addressed for the first time in the establishment of a firebreak network (áreas cortafuegos). The PSP constitutes an important part of the “plan de protección contra incendios forestales” (“plan of protection against forest fires”) and has the following main objectives: The analysis/mapping of historic forest fires in Valencia (1984-1994) to support decision-making in silvicultural issues, the classification of the forest by quality and fire risk to establish local/regional plans to prevent fires (through silvicultural actions), selection of areas (province level) for the establishment of pilot projects (to apply silvicultural actions), decision on periodic investment and level of employment.

Methods: Within the PSP, 4 pilot projects were initiated in Los Serranos (17‘470 ha), Utiel-Requena (20’966 ha), Valle de Ayora-Cofrentes (33’851 ha) and Sierra de Mariola (11’574 ha) to promote a preventive silviculture which aims in modifying the amount of fuel in the forest through the establishment of a firebreak network and to limit the burnt area. The pilot areas were selected (in collaboration with the forest administration of Valencia) by the following criteria: representativity for the whole province, high value for the population, high potential risk of fire. In T_SPA009en the pilot project of Ayora-Cofrentes (Cofrentes, Jalance, Jarafuel, Zarra, Ayora) is described in detail and this approach focuses on the Ayora site as well. The firebreak network was established between 1998 and 2002, carried out by the company VAERSA and executed on both public and private land. Since the old firebreaks (established before the project) had a strong visual and ecological impact, the PSP designed a new type called “área cortafuego”. The continuous maintenance of the firebreaks is required which is also included in the pilot project. The total area protected by the firebreak network amounts to 33’851 ha while the management measures were executed on 1944,81 ha. The costs of the execution were 1312 Euro per ha, the maintenance 82.03 Euro per ha (all 2 years) and 31.37 Euro per ha (all 4 years).

Stages of implementation: After the establishment of the PSP (1996) and the declaration of Ayora to a ZAU (1997) the implementation of the pilot project was realized in the following phases: 1) splitting up of the territory based on the quality and the potential risk (using maps and aerial pictures), 2) field work (to examine the first draft of the firebreak network elaborated in the office), 3) office work (digitizing), 4) final map, 5) estimation of costs, 6) combination of firebreak plan with the cadastral land register.

Role of stakeholders: The PSP, the ZAU and the pilot projects were set up by the regional government of Valencia, in collaboration with the forest services. The PSP is put into operation each year by the forest services to plan the maintenance of the firebreak network. The effect on the local population is the creation of jobs in forest management.