Firebreaks are classified in first, second and third order, together forming a system isolating separate areas by wide strips. This parcelling aims in controlling the spread of large forest fires. (Nina Lauterburg)
In the forest law 3/1993 the declaration of special areas to “Zonas de Actuación Urgente (ZAU)” (zone of urgent actions) through the regional government of Valencia is defined. Objectives are the protection against natural hazards and the promotion of forest restoration within this area. Ayora 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 de la Comunidad Valenciana” which became operative in 1996 and whose main objective is the reduction of the fire risk, the ZAU is practically addressed for the first time in the establishment of firebreaks (áreas cortafuegos). Based on this plan, the firebreaks were established within a pilot project “Proyecto Piloto de Selvicultura Preventiva” between 1998 and 2002, carried out by the company VAERSA (public company of the Generalitat Valenciana).
A firebreak is a strategically located strip on which the vegetation cover has been partially or totally removed down to mineral soil with the aim of controlling the spread of large forest fires. The main purposes are 1) to interrupt the continuity of hazardous fuels across a landscape to decrease the area affected by fires, 2) to provide areas where fire fighters are protected and can work more efficiently, 3) to slow down a fire, to reduce the fire intensity and caused damages, and 4) to provide strips where fuel management is facilitated. The total surface protected by the firebreaks is 33’851 ha while the management measures are executed on 1944,81 ha. This technology is also applied in other countries, e.g. Portugal, South Carolina or South Africa.
The establishment and maintenance are labour-intensive and expensive. Firebreaks can range between a protected area of 2000-6000 ha (first order), 500-1500 ha (second order), and 100-300 ha (third order), together forming a system isolating separate areas by wide strips. This parcelling aims in limiting the burnt area to a maximum of 6000 ha. Each firebreak consists of a bare vegetation-free strip (banda decapado). The width of the bare area ranges between 6m (first order), 3m (second order) and 1.5m (third order). Existing vegetation-free areas (e.g. roads) are used to establish firebreaks to have less visual impact. If there is no road, trees and shrubs have to be cleared and chipped entirely using chainsaws and special tractors. On each side of the bare area there is a totally cleared strip (banda de desbroce total). The width depends on the climatic zone, the order and the hazard of fuel, therefore ranging between 28m (first order), 11m (second order) and 6m (third order). Almost all the existing vegetation is cleared, only some isolated mature trees are not cut if they do not contribute to the propagation of a fire. On both sides of these strips there are auxiliary strips (banda auxiliar) where selective clearing is applied until reaching a desired density. Sick trees are cleared with priority. Species of high ecologic value and low flammability level are not cleared, such as Juniperus phoenicea, Juniperus oxycedrus and Quercus ilex ssp. rotundifolia. The width of these elements can vary according to the prevalent conditions. A part of the wood generated by the clearings is used as fuelwood, the other part is chipped and distributed on the soil as mulch. Firebreaks are often located on mountain ridges and created with 45° to the dominant wind direction (west) to facilitate fire extinction.
The maintenance of firebreaks is extremely important. Without clearing, fire-prone species will encroach which decreases the effectiveness of the firebreak. The maintenance is realized depending on the vegetation, usually in firebreaks of first order the maintenance is done every 2 years (“decapado” and “desbroce total”) or every 4 years (“banda auxiliar”) while firebreaks of second and third order are cleared every 4 years. In the here described project the maintenance was carried out in three phases (2001-2004, 2004-2008 and 2008-2012).
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, artisanry, wind mill parc). Most of the inhabitants work in the nuclear power plant. Forest management could be a source for jobs.
สถานที่: Region of Ayora (including the municipalities Requena, Cofrentes, Jalance, Jarafuel, Zarra, Ayora), Spain, Valencia, สเปน
ตำนวนการวิเคราะห์เทคโนโลยี:
การเผยแพร่ของเทคโนโลยี: กระจายไปอย่างสม่ำเสมอในพื้นที่ (approx. 100-1,000 ตร.กม.)
In a permanently protected area?:
วันที่ในการดำเนินการ: 10-50 ปี
ประเภทของการแนะนำ
| ปัจจัยนำเข้า | หน่วย | ปริมาณ | ค่าใช้จ่ายต่อหน่วย (Euro) | ค่าใช้จ่ายทั้งหมดต่อปัจจัยนำเข้า (Euro) | %ของค่าใช้จ่ายที่ก่อให้เกิดขึ้นโดยผู้ใช้ที่ดิน |
| แรงงาน | |||||
| labour | ha | 1.0 | 1095.0 | 1095.0 | |
| อุปกรณ์ | |||||
| machine use | ha | 1.0 | 675.0 | 675.0 | |
| ค่าใช้จ่ายทั้งหมดของการจัดตั้งเทคโนโลยี | 1'770.0 | ||||
| Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD | 2'391.89 | ||||
| ปัจจัยนำเข้า | หน่วย | ปริมาณ | ค่าใช้จ่ายต่อหน่วย (Euro) | ค่าใช้จ่ายทั้งหมดต่อปัจจัยนำเข้า (Euro) | %ของค่าใช้จ่ายที่ก่อให้เกิดขึ้นโดยผู้ใช้ที่ดิน |
| อุปกรณ์ | |||||
| machine use | ha | 1.0 | 557.0 | 557.0 | |
| ค่าใช้จ่ายทั้งหมดของการบำรุงรักษาสภาพเทคโนโลยี | 557.0 | ||||
| Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD | 752.7 | ||||
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
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
In some areas, the implementation of firebreaks can occupy productive land which means a loss of land. The main objective of this technology is to provide protection from forest fires instead of creating productive land
In some areas, the cleared ground on mountain ridges is used for wind mills. A part of the cleared vegetation is used for bioenergy (biomass).
The establishment and the maintenance of fire breaks is expensive.
If there is no money provided by the state the maintenance of fire breaks cannot be executed. This constitutes a high risk for forest workers because they never know if they will loose their job.
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 often criticise the aesthetic impact of fire breaks. But this impact is smaller than if the whole forest is burnt
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
On the cleared strips, associated with the vegetation removal
On the cleared strips, associated with the vegetation removal
On the cleared strips, but not too bad because of the mulch layer (removed vegetation is chipped in-situ)
On the cleared strips, associated with the vegetation removal
If the fire is stopped more quickly there will be less emissions
The firebreaks prevent the occurrence and spread of large forest fires by providing access for fire fighters
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
