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Gamboa G, Otero I, Bueno C, Arilla E, Ballart H, Camprubí L, Canaleta G, Tolosa G, Castellnou M. Participatory multi-criteria evaluation of landscape values to inform wildfire management. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 327:116762. [PMID: 36463839 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is expected to increase the number of days with meteorological conditions conducive to uncontrollable wildfires. Thus, it is necessary to strengthen the capacity of wildfire-prone regions to minimize the adverse impacts of these wildfires by creating resilient landscapes. In this paper we develop a participatory multi-criteria evaluation to identify and map landscape values and prioritize areas according to these values in the Montseny Biophere Reserve (Catalonia, NE Spain). Then, we draft a wildfire management strategy to protect the areas that have been prioritized through selected fuel reduction sectors that would reduce wildfire intensity. Finally, we emphasize the added value of a participatory multi-criteria evaluation in the adaptation to and management of expected megafires. We find that the integration of landscape values through participatory multi-criteria evaluation has the potential to alter wildfire management strategies by adding fuel reduction sectors and changing their implementation order. However, the implementation of the planned fuel reduction treatments faces socioeconomic and institutional barriers that call for a deeper engagement with transdisciplinary project design and transformative science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Gamboa
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Building ICTA-ICP, C/ de Les Columnes s/n, Campus de La UAB, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Iago Otero
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Mountain Research, University of Lausanne, Site de Sion - Ch. de L'Institut 18, 1967, Bramois, Sion, Switzerland.
| | - Conchy Bueno
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Building ICTA-ICP, C/ de Les Columnes s/n, Campus de La UAB, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Etel Arilla
- Forest Actions Reinforcement Group (GRAF), Firefighters Body, Catalan Government, Avinguda de Serra Galliners, 112, 08290, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Helena Ballart
- Pau Costa Foundation, Av. Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer, 42 A, Baixos 2A08552 Taradell, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Laura Camprubí
- El Risell SCCL, C/ Rabassa, 46-48 A, 08024, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Guillem Canaleta
- Pau Costa Foundation, Av. Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer, 42 A, Baixos 2A08552 Taradell, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Gemma Tolosa
- Forest Actions Reinforcement Group (GRAF), Firefighters Body, Catalan Government, Avinguda de Serra Galliners, 112, 08290, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; El Risell SCCL, C/ Rabassa, 46-48 A, 08024, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marc Castellnou
- Forest Actions Reinforcement Group (GRAF), Firefighters Body, Catalan Government, Avinguda de Serra Galliners, 112, 08290, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
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Assessing Risk and Prioritizing Safety Interventions in Human Settlements Affected by Large Wildfires. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f11080859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The large wildfires of June 2017 disturbed many communities in central Portugal. The civil parish of Alvares was severely affected, with about 60% of its area burnt. Assessing the risk of large wildfires affecting local communities is becoming increasingly important, to reduce potential losses in the future. In this study, we assessed wildfire risk for the 36 villages of Alvares parish, by combining hazard, exposure and vulnerability analysis at the settlement scale. Hazard was obtained from fire spread simulations, which integrated exposure together with population and building density within each village. Vulnerability was based on the sociodemographic characteristics of the population, ranked with a hierarchical cluster analysis. Coping capacity was also integrated, considering the distance of each village to the fire station and the time needed for residents to reach a shelter. We simulated 12 different land management scenarios, regarding the implementation of a fuel-break network and the level of forest management activities. The potential effects of each scenario in the exposure and risk levels of the settlements were evaluated. The results show that, for a business-as-usual scenario, 36% of the villages are at high or very high risk of wildfires. Examining each risk component, 28% of the villages are highly exposed, 44% are highly vulnerable, and 22% do not have a potential shelter on-site, calling for different intervention strategies in each specific risk dimension. All the land management scenarios, even if designed for other purposes than the protection of settlements, could decrease the proportion of highly exposed villages at different levels, up to a maximum of 61%. These findings can contribute to adjust prevention and mitigation strategies to the risk levels and the characteristics of the population and the territory, and to prioritize the protection and emergency actions at the local scale.
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Alcasena FJ, Ager AA, Bailey JD, Pineda N, Vega-García C. Towards a comprehensive wildfire management strategy for Mediterranean areas: Framework development and implementation in Catalonia, Spain. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 231:303-320. [PMID: 30359896 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Southern European countries rely largely on fire suppression and ignition prevention to manage a growing wildfire problem. We explored a more wholistic, long-term approach based on priority maps for the implementation of diverse management options aimed at creating fire resilient landscapes, restoring cultural fire regimes, facilitating safe and efficient fire response, and creating fire-adapted communities. To illustrate this new comprehensive strategy for fire-prone Mediterranean areas, we developed and implemented the framework in Catalonia (northeastern Spain). We first used advanced simulation modeling methods to assess various wildfire exposure metrics across spatially changing fire-regime conditions, and these outputs were then combined with land use maps and historical fire occurrence data to prioritize different fuel and fire management options at the municipality level. Priority sites for fuel management programs concentrated in the central and northeastern high-hazard forestlands. The suitable areas for reintroducing fires in natural ecosystems located in scattered municipalities with ample lightning ignitions and minimal human presence. Priority areas for ignition prevention programs were mapped to populated coastal municipalities and main transportation corridors. Landscapes where fire suppression is the principal long-term strategy concentrated in agricultural plains with a high density of ignitions. Localized programs to build defensible space and improve self-protection on communities could be emphasized in the coastal wildland-urban interface and inner intermix areas from Barcelona and Gerona. We discuss how the results of this study can facilitate collaborative landscape planning and identify the constraints that prevent a longer term and more effective solution to better coexist with fire in southern European regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fermín J Alcasena
- Agriculture and Forest Engineering Department, University of Lleida, Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
| | - Alan A Ager
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, 5775 US Highway 10W, Missoula, MT 59808, USA
| | - John D Bailey
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, 043 Peavy Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Nicolau Pineda
- Meteorological Service of Catalonia, Carrer Berlín 38-46, 08029 Barcelona, Spain; Lightning Research Group, Technical University of Catalonia, Campus de Terrassa, Edifici TR1, Carrer Colom 1, Terrassa, 08222 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Vega-García
- Agriculture and Forest Engineering Department, University of Lleida, Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain; Forest Sciences Centre of Catalonia, Carretera de Sant Llorenç de Morunys km 2, Solsona, 25280 Lleida, Spain
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Salis M, Del Giudice L, Arca B, Ager AA, Alcasena-Urdiroz F, Lozano O, Bacciu V, Spano D, Duce P. Modeling the effects of different fuel treatment mosaics on wildfire spread and behavior in a Mediterranean agro-pastoral area. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 212:490-505. [PMID: 29475158 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Wildfire spread and behavior can be limited by fuel treatments, even if their effects can vary according to a number of factors including type, intensity, extension, and spatial arrangement. In this work, we simulated the response of key wildfire exposure metrics to variations in the percentage of treated area, treatment unit size, and spatial arrangement of fuel treatments under different wind intensities. The study was carried out in a fire-prone 625 km2 agro-pastoral area mostly covered by herbaceous fuels, and located in Northern Sardinia, Italy. We constrained the selection of fuel treatment units to areas covered by specific herbaceous land use classes and low terrain slope (<10%). We treated 2%, 5% and 8% of the landscape area, and identified priority sites to locate the fuel treatment units for all treatment alternatives. The fuel treatment alternatives were designed create diverse mosaics of disconnected treatment units with different sizes (0.5-10 ha, LOW strategy; 10-25 ha, MED strategy; 25-50 ha, LAR strategy); in addition, treatment units in a 100-m buffer around the road network (ROAD strategy) were tested. We assessed pre- and post-treatment wildfire behavior by the Minimum Travel Time (MTT) fire spread algorithm. The simulations replicated a set of southwestern wind speed scenarios (16, 24 and 32 km h-1) and the driest fuel moisture conditions observed in the study area. Our results showed that fuel treatments implemented near the existing road network were significantly more efficient than the other alternatives, and this difference was amplified at the highest wind speed. Moreover, the largest treatment unit sizes were the most effective in containing wildfire growth. As expected, increasing the percentage of the landscape treated and reducing wind speed lowered fire exposure profiles for all fuel treatment alternatives, and this was observed at both the landscape scale and for highly valued resources. The methodology presented in this study can support the design and optimization of fuel management programs and policies in agro-pastoral areas of the Mediterranean Basin and herbaceous type landscapes elsewhere, where recurrent grassland fires pose a threat to rural communities, farms and infrastructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Salis
- Institute of Biometeorology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR IBIMET), Traversa La Crucca 3, 07100 Sassari, Italy; Foundation Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC), IAFES Division, Via De Nicola 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
| | - Liliana Del Giudice
- University of Sassari, Department of Agriculture, Via De Nicola 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Bachisio Arca
- Institute of Biometeorology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR IBIMET), Traversa La Crucca 3, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Alan A Ager
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, 5775 US Highway 10W, Missoula, MT 59808, USA
| | - Fermin Alcasena-Urdiroz
- University of Lleida, Department of Agricultural and Forest Engineering, Avenida da Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Olga Lozano
- University of Sassari, Department of Agriculture, Via De Nicola 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Valentina Bacciu
- Foundation Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC), IAFES Division, Via De Nicola 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Donatella Spano
- Foundation Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC), IAFES Division, Via De Nicola 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy; University of Sassari, Department of Agriculture, Via De Nicola 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Duce
- Institute of Biometeorology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR IBIMET), Traversa La Crucca 3, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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Barros AMG, Ager AA, Day MA, Krawchuk MA, Spies TA. Wildfires managed for restoration enhance ecological resilience. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ana M. G. Barros
- College of Forestry, Forest Ecosystems & Society Oregon State University 321 Richardson Hall Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
| | - Alan A. Ager
- USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory 5775 US Highway 10W Missoula Montana 59808 USA
| | - Michelle A. Day
- College of Forestry Forest Engineering, Resources & Management Oregon State University 280 Peavy Hall Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
| | - Meg A. Krawchuk
- College of Forestry, Forest Ecosystems & Society Oregon State University 321 Richardson Hall Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
| | - Thomas A. Spies
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station 3200 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
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Oliveira S, Félix F, Nunes A, Lourenço L, Laneve G, Sebastián-López A. Mapping wildfire vulnerability in Mediterranean Europe. Testing a stepwise approach for operational purposes. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 206:158-169. [PMID: 29059570 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Vulnerability assessment is a vital component of wildfire management. This research focused on the development of a framework to measure and map vulnerability levels in several areas within Mediterranean Europe, where wildfires are a major concern. The framework followed a stepwise approach to evaluate its main components, expressed by exposure, sensitivity and coping capacity. Data on population density, fuel types, protected areas location, roads infrastructure and surveillance activities, among others, were integrated to create composite indices, representing each component and articulated in multiple dimensions. Maps were created for several test areas, in northwest Portugal, southwest Sardinia in Italy and northeast Corsica in France, with the contribution of local participants from civil protection institutions and forest services. Results showed the influence of fuel sensitivity levels, population distribution and protected areas coverage for the overall vulnerability classes. Reasonable levels of accuracy were found on the maps provided through the validation procedure, with an overall match above 72% for the several sites. The systematic and flexible approach applied allowed for adjustments to local circumstances with regards to data availability and fire management procedures, without compromising its consistency and with substantial operational capabilities. The results obtained and the positive feedback of end-users encourage its further application, as a means to improve wildfire management strategies at multiple levels with the latest scientific outputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Oliveira
- Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, Universidade de Lisboa (University of Lisbon), Edifício IGOT, Rua Branca Edmée Marques, Cidade Universitária, 1600-276, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Fernando Félix
- Núcleo de Investigação Científica de Incêndios Florestais, Universidade de Coimbra (University of Coimbra), Aeródromo da Lousã, Chã do Freixo, 3200-395, Lousã, Portugal
| | - Adélia Nunes
- Departamento de Geografia e Turismo, CEGOT - Centro de Estudos de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território, Universidade de Coimbra (University of Coimbra), Faculdade de Letras, Colégio de S. Jerónimo, 3004-530, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luciano Lourenço
- Departamento de Geografia e Turismo, CEGOT - Centro de Estudos de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território, Universidade de Coimbra (University of Coimbra), Faculdade de Letras, Colégio de S. Jerónimo, 3004-530, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Giovanni Laneve
- University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Scuola di Ingegneria Aerospaziale, Via Salaria 851, 00138, Rome, Italy
| | - Ana Sebastián-López
- GMV UK, Harwell Innovation Centre, 173 Curie Avenue, Harwell, Oxford, OX11 0QG, United Kingdom
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Lozano OM, Salis M, Ager AA, Arca B, Alcasena FJ, Monteiro AT, Finney MA, Del Giudice L, Scoccimarro E, Spano D. Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Wildfire Exposure in Mediterranean Areas. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2017; 37:1898-1916. [PMID: 27996154 DOI: 10.1111/risa.12739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We used simulation modeling to assess potential climate change impacts on wildfire exposure in Italy and Corsica (France). Weather data were obtained from a regional climate model for the period 1981-2070 using the IPCC A1B emissions scenario. Wildfire simulations were performed with the minimum travel time fire spread algorithm using predicted fuel moisture, wind speed, and wind direction to simulate expected changes in weather for three climatic periods (1981-2010, 2011-2040, and 2041-2070). Overall, the wildfire simulations showed very slight changes in flame length, while other outputs such as burn probability and fire size increased significantly in the second future period (2041-2070), especially in the southern portion of the study area. The projected changes fuel moisture could result in a lengthening of the fire season for the entire study area. This work represents the first application in Europe of a methodology based on high resolution (250 m) landscape wildfire modeling to assess potential impacts of climate changes on wildfire exposure at a national scale. The findings can provide information and support in wildfire management planning and fire risk mitigation activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga M Lozano
- University of Sassari, Department of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources (DIPNET), Sassari, Italy
| | - Michele Salis
- Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC), IAFES Division, Sassari, Italy
| | - Alan A Ager
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Bachisio Arca
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biometeorology (IBIMET), Sassari, Italy
| | - Fermin J Alcasena
- University of Lleida, School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSEA), Agriculture and Forest Engineering Department, Lleida, Spain
| | - Antonio T Monteiro
- Predictive Ecology Group, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources - CIBIO/INBIO Associate Laboratory, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Mark A Finney
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Liliana Del Giudice
- University of Sassari, Department of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources (DIPNET), Sassari, Italy
| | - Enrico Scoccimarro
- Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Changes (CMCC), SERC Division, Bologna, Italy
| | - Donatella Spano
- University of Sassari, Department of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources (DIPNET), Sassari, Italy
- Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC), IAFES Division, Sassari, Italy
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Application of Wildfire Risk Assessment Results to Wildfire Response Planning in the Southern Sierra Nevada, California, USA. FORESTS 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/f7030064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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