1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Universidad de Valencia (Universidad de Valencia) - Spain

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

06/03/2014

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Prescribed burns are considered as the intentional ignition of grass, shrub, or forest fuels for specific purposes according to predetermined conditions. Its objectives are fuel reduction, regeneration of plant species, and control of diseases.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Prescribed fires as a management tool is planned to be set up in shrubland areas of the Caroig mountain range, Valencia.

Purpose of the Technology: Main purpose is reduce fuel load that increases fire risk hazard in the area.
The research team of the University of Valencia will implement an experiment based on the sediment fences technique to capture and measure post-fire soil losses in a landscape burned by the prescribed fire technique.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Climate (less than 30 meter/second wind speed, less than 30 Celsius degree, and air moisture higher than 30%) and vegetation conditions must to be reached for the prescribed fire application.
The delimitation and removing vegetation around the burned area must be achieved in order to reduce fire spread.

Natural / human environment: The Aleppo pine trees in the region are typically planted as monoculture for wood production. The landscape reflects a long history of intense land management, with a mosaic of (semi-) natural and man-made agricultural (terraces), shrublands and afforested lands. Since the 1970´s, however, wildfires have increased dramatically in frequency and extent, driven primarily by socio-economic changes.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): When wildfire, it is expected a runoff and soil erosion increase, resulting in a decrease of on-site fertility and derived off-site effects such as loss of water quality, reservoirs water volume storage, higher risk of flooding and human beings damage. The prescribed fire application will help to reduce fire risk hazard.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Loss of wood resources.

Plantation forestry: Aleppo pine plantation

3.3 Further information about land use

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• natural and semi-natural forest management
• forest plantation management
• ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

Prescribed fires as a tool to manage forest fuel load and reduce fire risk hazard.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Bf: detrimental effects of fires

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (Afforestation monoculture of pine species, lead the environment to a high fire risk.), droughts (Summer droughts in mediterranean areas increase fire risk.), population pressure (depopulation leads to land abandonment and thus increase of fire risk)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: prevention of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Delimitation of the area to be burnt is the first step. Then, a buffer area where vegetation is removed is mandatory. Opposite to wind direction and slope, the prescribed fire must to be applied.

Location: Ayora. Valencia, Spain

Date: 06-03-2014

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high (To develop Prescribed fires, it is needed a high quality formation for this purpose.)

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: control of fires, reduction of dry material (fuel for wildfires)

Vegetative measure: Prescribed fire
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 501-1000 m a.s.l. (650-700 meters)
Slopes on average: Rolling (11-15%) (Maximum angle on which the technology could be applied)

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil depth on average: very shallow (leptosols) and shallow (Cambisols)
Soil fertility is medium
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium
Soil water storage capacity is high

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• state

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Reduce fire risk.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Prescribed fire technique allows to reduce fire risk hazard in forest plantations, increase diversity through introduction of local species. How can they be sustained / enhanced? It could be enhanced by the pre selection of areas in a mosaic pattern that are suitable to be burned by the prescribed fire technique.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Lack of vegetation, aesthetic reasons

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Good prescribed fire practises has no disadvantages since fire is part of the mediterranean ecosystem.