In Italy, about 45,000 ha of forest areas are burned each year. The ignitions are mainly human-ca... more In Italy, about 45,000 ha of forest areas are burned each year. The ignitions are mainly human-caused (over 90 percent) and about 50 percent are arsons. The recent Italian National Law n. 353/2000 therefore prescribes that costs of human-caused fires must be refunded by the person responsible (when discovered). Two main components of the costs are identified: those paid for the active fire-fighting operations and the costs due to forest ecosystem disturbance. This study proposes a methodological framework for estimating the total costs of forest fires and applies the method to a specific area (Veneto region) of the north-eastern Italy. The costs of active fire-fighting were calculated taking into account all Regional forest fire-fighting organizations. Data on volunteers and regional operators, forest fire statistics, equipment and machinery types and use were studied and unit costs (€ h -1 ) calculated at both provincial and regional level. Environmental costs are estimated accounting for different forest benefits: -wood production; -climate change mitigation (CO 2 stocks); -nature and biodiversity conservation; -hydrogeological protection; -tourism activity. Environmental cost complies with the Veneto region forest situation. It is computed by local prices and considering the 2003 Forest Inventory. This method is designed to require very few input data to be measured in the burnt area namely the percentage of dead trees, stand age, distance from the main road and the length of it that could be damaged by falling rocks. A GIS-ACCESS application allows cost computation to be automated and to integrate all the results. These results will be used in legal proceedings when the person responsible for a fire is caught.
Prescribed burning is used in many geographical areas for multiple and integrated objectives (wil... more Prescribed burning is used in many geographical areas for multiple and integrated objectives (wildfire prevention, habitat conservation, grazing management). In Europe the collaboration between researchers and fire professionals has brought to implement this technique over increasing areas (~104 ha year-1), effectively and efficiently. In Italy prescribed burning has not been much studied and it is rarely applied. A new interest is recently rising. Some Regions particularly threatened by wildfires have updated their legislation and set up procedures to authorize prescribed fire experiments and interventions. From 2004 to 2011 several scientific, operative and training experiences have been carried out at a regional level (Basilicata, Campania, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piemonte, Sardegna, Toscana). The present paper aims to: (i) document and compare these regional programs; (ii) discuss their frameworks and limitations; (iii) provide information about objectives, prescriptions, methods and results. The study has involved Universities, Forest Corps, Civil Protection, unicipalities,
Parks and professionals from Italy and other Countries. Interventions have regarded integrated objectives (fire hazard reduction; habitat conservation; forest and grazing management), and involved several vegetation types (broadleaved and conifer forests; Mediterranean and Continental shrublands; grasslands). Studies on fire behaviour and ecology have helped to set prescriptions for specific objectives and environments. Results have been transferred to professionals through training sessions. Several common elements are outlined: integrated objectives, multidisciplinary character, training and research products. Ecological questions, certification to the use of fire, communication to local communities and the proposal of new studies, are some of the issues outlined in the discussion. The present study is the first review at national level and we hope it will help to deepen the meaning and limitations of a technique which is an effective tool to prevent wildfires when integrated in the forest and land planning process.
Forest@ - Rivista di Selvicoltura ed Ecologia Forestale, 2012
Prescribed burning experiences in Italy: an integrated approach to prevent forest fires. Prescrib... more Prescribed burning experiences in Italy: an integrated approach to prevent forest fires. Prescribed burning is used in many geographical areas for multiple and integrated objectives (wildfire prevention, habitat conservation, grazing management). In Europe the collaboration between researchers and fire professionals has brought to implement this technique over increasing areas (~10 4 ha year -1 ), effectively and efficiently. In Italy prescribed burning has not been much studied and it is rarely applied. A new interest is recently rising. Some Regions particularly threatened by wildfires have updated their legislation and set up procedures to authorize prescribed fire experiments and interventions. From 2004 to 2011 several scientific, operative and training experiences have been carried out at a regional level (Basilicata, Campania, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piemonte, Sardegna, Toscana). The present paper aims to: (i) document and compare these regional programs; (ii) discuss their frameworks and limitations; (iii) provide information about objectives, prescriptions, methods and results. The study has involved Universities, Forest Corps, Civil Protection, Municipalities, Parks and professionals from Italy and other Countries. Interventions have regarded integrated objectives (fire hazard reduction; habitat conservation; forest and grazing management), and involved several vegetation types (broadleaved and conifer forests; Mediterranean and Continental shrublands; grasslands). Studies on fire behaviour and ecology have helped to set prescriptions for specific objectives and environments. Results have been transferred to professionals through training sessions. Several common elements are outlined: integrated objectives, multidisciplinary character, training and research products. Ecological questions, certification to the use of fire, communication to local communities and the proposal of new studies, are some of the issues outlined in the discussion. The present study is the first review at national level and we hope it will help to deepen the meaning and limitations of a technique which is an effective tool to prevent wildfires when integrated in the forest and land planning process.
In recent years, Austria has experienced highly variable forest fire activity with new record val... more In recent years, Austria has experienced highly variable forest fire activity with new record values regarding the number of fires and sizes of burned areas. Single seasons in 2011, 2012 and 2013 showed 20-year-peaks and significant differences regarding fire activity. A statistical overview of datasets from Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia is given, allowing a preliminary comparison between the Alpine countries. Higher temperatures in combination with local dry weather conditions are hypothesized as reasons for the observed anomalies. Further analysis will be done with new climatic data in high spatial resolution from the "AgroDroughtAustria" project to confirm these preliminary findings.
ABSTRACT The interpretation and communication of fire danger warning levels based on weather indi... more ABSTRACT The interpretation and communication of fire danger warning levels based on weather indices values are critical for fire management activities. In the framework of the EU Alpine Space Interreg-project ALP FFIRS (Alpine Forest Fire Warning System) we verified the response of several Fire Weather Indices with respect to the recorded forest fires in the last 10 years. To this purpose, we first set up a platform for sharing historical series of forest fire and weather data and we then developed a common evaluation technique of the fire weather indices skills on the basis of the following principles: a) to be non-parametric, in order to avoid the potential production of spurious results and b) to distinguish skills of several indices in different seasons and different areas. Our analysis demonstrates very clearly that there is no perfect index, the best performing one may change according to the region and the season considered. We also hypothesize that a single index may only partially describe the fire danger and a combination of indices may be of great benefit for establishing a suitable a Fire Danger Rating system in the Alpine context. The study will provide the forest fire suppression services an objective analysis of fire danger systems at the Alpine area scale and contribute to the creation of a common Alpine Forest Fire Danger Scale, even if the regional services will use different fire weather indices.
In the Alps forest fires have burnt around 14,500 ha per year in the past decade. In this paper w... more In the Alps forest fires have burnt around 14,500 ha per year in the past decade. In this paper we studied large-scale (synoptic) weather patterns and the corresponding occurrence of forest fires in this complex topography. The database for our analysis comprised three main parts: a daily classification of weather types in the period 1951-2010, daily calculated forest fire danger indices at five selected stations in the Alps and ten years of observed forest fires (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010). Firstly we analyzed the frequency of the 11 different weather types and show that the Alps are a region where cyclonic flows in general, and westerly cyclonic in particular, are the dominating large-scale weather pattern due to their location in the westerlies of the global circulation system. Comparing the weather types with three calculated sub-indices of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (FFMC, DC, DMC) at five selected sites (representative of the different climate regions in the Alps) revealed a strong dependence of meteorological forest fire danger on flow direction and cyclonality. Cyclonic weather types were characterized by a high relative humidity and in consequence a low fire danger, while the calculated fire danger in anticyclonic weather situations was significantly higher. Furthermore, strong regional differences occurred in dependence on the flow direction. Northerly winds resulted in low fire danger north of the Alps, due to orographic enhanced precipitation, and high forest fire danger south of the Alps, because of dry katabatic foehn winds. In general, the stations in the Northern Alps showed significantly lower fire index values than the stations in the south and additionally a stronger seasonal variation with considerably higher index values in summer. Regional differences were highest for the FFMC, followed by the DMC and the DC, and could be attributed to the time lag of different forest soil layers. DMC and DC relate to a rather thick soil layer which reacts very slowly and since weather types in the Alps usually change every 7th day, drying of this deep layer is too slow to reveal significant differences between the regions. The Alpine forest fire database was analyzed on a national basis to identify correlations between observed fires and large-scale weather types. 95% of the observed fires in the EU-defined Alpine Space in the past decade occurred in the two southern countries Italy and France. This was likely due to both favorable climatic conditions and better database quality in these two countries. Unfortunately, the datasets of some regions north of the Alps (e.g. in Switzerland, Germany, Austria) were very patchy. A strong human influence on the Alpine fire regime resulted in a generally low correlation between weather types and observed forest fires. Surprisingly, many forest fires occurred in conjunction with cyclonic weather types. This could be explained by the start date of the fire which was mostly at the end of a drought period when the largescale synoptical conditions had already turned to cyclonic. Nevertheless, most and biggest fires occurred during high pressure systems and other anticyclonic situations when the fuels were completely dry.
Forest@ - Rivista di Selvicoltura ed Ecologia Forestale, 2008
... Citation: Valese E, Anfodillo T, Rossi S, Carraro V, Deslauriers A, Carrer M, Monai M, Lemess... more ... Citation: Valese E, Anfodillo T, Rossi S, Carraro V, Deslauriers A, Carrer M, Monai M, Lemessi A, Ramon E, 2008. ... Il Duff Moisture Code (DMC) indica il contenuto idrico degli strati organici moderatamente profondi e la profondità che il fuoco sarà in grado di raggiungere ...
In Italy, about 45,000 ha of forest areas are burned each year. The ignitions are mainly human-ca... more In Italy, about 45,000 ha of forest areas are burned each year. The ignitions are mainly human-caused (over 90 percent) and about 50 percent are arsons. The recent Italian National Law n. 353/2000 therefore prescribes that costs of human-caused fires must be refunded by the person responsible (when discovered). Two main components of the costs are identified: those paid for the active fire-fighting operations and the costs due to forest ecosystem disturbance. This study proposes a methodological framework for estimating the total costs of forest fires and applies the method to a specific area (Veneto region) of the north-eastern Italy. The costs of active fire-fighting were calculated taking into account all Regional forest fire-fighting organizations. Data on volunteers and regional operators, forest fire statistics, equipment and machinery types and use were studied and unit costs (€ h -1 ) calculated at both provincial and regional level. Environmental costs are estimated accounting for different forest benefits: -wood production; -climate change mitigation (CO 2 stocks); -nature and biodiversity conservation; -hydrogeological protection; -tourism activity. Environmental cost complies with the Veneto region forest situation. It is computed by local prices and considering the 2003 Forest Inventory. This method is designed to require very few input data to be measured in the burnt area namely the percentage of dead trees, stand age, distance from the main road and the length of it that could be damaged by falling rocks. A GIS-ACCESS application allows cost computation to be automated and to integrate all the results. These results will be used in legal proceedings when the person responsible for a fire is caught.
Starting in September 2009, the Alpine Space Interreg-project Alp-FFIRS (Alpine Forest Fire waRni... more Starting in September 2009, the Alpine Space Interreg-project Alp-FFIRS (Alpine Forest Fire waRning System) was launched with the aim of monitoring and reducing forest fire hazard in the Alpine environment through prevention and mitigation actions. In the framework of the project, a harmonised forest fire data base was build making for the first time possible characterizing the forest fire regime in the Alpine region and to highlight the main differences with respect to fires in the Mediterranean area. For the whole Alpine Space, basic statistics are applied in order to quantify the link between fire frequency and burned area at a global scale. A more detailed analysis has been carried out for some European Alpine regions, depending basically on the amount of features and spatial attributes available. In this way spatial and temporal variability of the Alpine fire regime is identified. The analysis of the forest fire data confirms the presence of a mixed fire regime with a winter season displaying mostly quick spreading human-induced surface fires at low altitudes with a concentration in March-April and a summer season with a peak of lightning-induced fires in July-August. Annual fire frequency differs from region to region and especially from the northern to the southern slope of the Alps. Nevertheless, a general increase in lightning-induced fires during the mid-summer may be detected. Among fires of known cause, most events and burnt areas may be linked to negligence and premeditated human actions. Depending on the region and the season up to 30% of the fires are induced by lightning, especially on the southern slopes of the Alps. The main differences in respect to the Mediterranean fire regime are therefore, the existence of a peak in fire frequency and burned areas in spring and a consistent portion of light-induced fires in the high summer season.
In Italy, about 45,000 ha of forest areas are burned each year. The ignitions are mainly human-ca... more In Italy, about 45,000 ha of forest areas are burned each year. The ignitions are mainly human-caused (over 90 percent) and about 50 percent are arsons. The recent Italian National Law n. 353/2000 therefore prescribes that costs of human-caused fires must be refunded by the person responsible (when discovered). Two main components of the costs are identified: those paid for the active fire-fighting operations and the costs due to forest ecosystem disturbance. This study proposes a methodological framework for estimating the total costs of forest fires and applies the method to a specific area (Veneto region) of the north-eastern Italy. The costs of active fire-fighting were calculated taking into account all Regional forest fire-fighting organizations. Data on volunteers and regional operators, forest fire statistics, equipment and machinery types and use were studied and unit costs (€ h -1 ) calculated at both provincial and regional level. Environmental costs are estimated accounting for different forest benefits: -wood production; -climate change mitigation (CO 2 stocks); -nature and biodiversity conservation; -hydrogeological protection; -tourism activity. Environmental cost complies with the Veneto region forest situation. It is computed by local prices and considering the 2003 Forest Inventory. This method is designed to require very few input data to be measured in the burnt area namely the percentage of dead trees, stand age, distance from the main road and the length of it that could be damaged by falling rocks. A GIS-ACCESS application allows cost computation to be automated and to integrate all the results. These results will be used in legal proceedings when the person responsible for a fire is caught.
Prescribed burning is used in many geographical areas for multiple and integrated objectives (wil... more Prescribed burning is used in many geographical areas for multiple and integrated objectives (wildfire prevention, habitat conservation, grazing management). In Europe the collaboration between researchers and fire professionals has brought to implement this technique over increasing areas (~104 ha year-1), effectively and efficiently. In Italy prescribed burning has not been much studied and it is rarely applied. A new interest is recently rising. Some Regions particularly threatened by wildfires have updated their legislation and set up procedures to authorize prescribed fire experiments and interventions. From 2004 to 2011 several scientific, operative and training experiences have been carried out at a regional level (Basilicata, Campania, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piemonte, Sardegna, Toscana). The present paper aims to: (i) document and compare these regional programs; (ii) discuss their frameworks and limitations; (iii) provide information about objectives, prescriptions, methods and results. The study has involved Universities, Forest Corps, Civil Protection, unicipalities,
Parks and professionals from Italy and other Countries. Interventions have regarded integrated objectives (fire hazard reduction; habitat conservation; forest and grazing management), and involved several vegetation types (broadleaved and conifer forests; Mediterranean and Continental shrublands; grasslands). Studies on fire behaviour and ecology have helped to set prescriptions for specific objectives and environments. Results have been transferred to professionals through training sessions. Several common elements are outlined: integrated objectives, multidisciplinary character, training and research products. Ecological questions, certification to the use of fire, communication to local communities and the proposal of new studies, are some of the issues outlined in the discussion. The present study is the first review at national level and we hope it will help to deepen the meaning and limitations of a technique which is an effective tool to prevent wildfires when integrated in the forest and land planning process.
Forest@ - Rivista di Selvicoltura ed Ecologia Forestale, 2012
Prescribed burning experiences in Italy: an integrated approach to prevent forest fires. Prescrib... more Prescribed burning experiences in Italy: an integrated approach to prevent forest fires. Prescribed burning is used in many geographical areas for multiple and integrated objectives (wildfire prevention, habitat conservation, grazing management). In Europe the collaboration between researchers and fire professionals has brought to implement this technique over increasing areas (~10 4 ha year -1 ), effectively and efficiently. In Italy prescribed burning has not been much studied and it is rarely applied. A new interest is recently rising. Some Regions particularly threatened by wildfires have updated their legislation and set up procedures to authorize prescribed fire experiments and interventions. From 2004 to 2011 several scientific, operative and training experiences have been carried out at a regional level (Basilicata, Campania, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piemonte, Sardegna, Toscana). The present paper aims to: (i) document and compare these regional programs; (ii) discuss their frameworks and limitations; (iii) provide information about objectives, prescriptions, methods and results. The study has involved Universities, Forest Corps, Civil Protection, Municipalities, Parks and professionals from Italy and other Countries. Interventions have regarded integrated objectives (fire hazard reduction; habitat conservation; forest and grazing management), and involved several vegetation types (broadleaved and conifer forests; Mediterranean and Continental shrublands; grasslands). Studies on fire behaviour and ecology have helped to set prescriptions for specific objectives and environments. Results have been transferred to professionals through training sessions. Several common elements are outlined: integrated objectives, multidisciplinary character, training and research products. Ecological questions, certification to the use of fire, communication to local communities and the proposal of new studies, are some of the issues outlined in the discussion. The present study is the first review at national level and we hope it will help to deepen the meaning and limitations of a technique which is an effective tool to prevent wildfires when integrated in the forest and land planning process.
In recent years, Austria has experienced highly variable forest fire activity with new record val... more In recent years, Austria has experienced highly variable forest fire activity with new record values regarding the number of fires and sizes of burned areas. Single seasons in 2011, 2012 and 2013 showed 20-year-peaks and significant differences regarding fire activity. A statistical overview of datasets from Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia is given, allowing a preliminary comparison between the Alpine countries. Higher temperatures in combination with local dry weather conditions are hypothesized as reasons for the observed anomalies. Further analysis will be done with new climatic data in high spatial resolution from the "AgroDroughtAustria" project to confirm these preliminary findings.
ABSTRACT The interpretation and communication of fire danger warning levels based on weather indi... more ABSTRACT The interpretation and communication of fire danger warning levels based on weather indices values are critical for fire management activities. In the framework of the EU Alpine Space Interreg-project ALP FFIRS (Alpine Forest Fire Warning System) we verified the response of several Fire Weather Indices with respect to the recorded forest fires in the last 10 years. To this purpose, we first set up a platform for sharing historical series of forest fire and weather data and we then developed a common evaluation technique of the fire weather indices skills on the basis of the following principles: a) to be non-parametric, in order to avoid the potential production of spurious results and b) to distinguish skills of several indices in different seasons and different areas. Our analysis demonstrates very clearly that there is no perfect index, the best performing one may change according to the region and the season considered. We also hypothesize that a single index may only partially describe the fire danger and a combination of indices may be of great benefit for establishing a suitable a Fire Danger Rating system in the Alpine context. The study will provide the forest fire suppression services an objective analysis of fire danger systems at the Alpine area scale and contribute to the creation of a common Alpine Forest Fire Danger Scale, even if the regional services will use different fire weather indices.
In the Alps forest fires have burnt around 14,500 ha per year in the past decade. In this paper w... more In the Alps forest fires have burnt around 14,500 ha per year in the past decade. In this paper we studied large-scale (synoptic) weather patterns and the corresponding occurrence of forest fires in this complex topography. The database for our analysis comprised three main parts: a daily classification of weather types in the period 1951-2010, daily calculated forest fire danger indices at five selected stations in the Alps and ten years of observed forest fires (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010). Firstly we analyzed the frequency of the 11 different weather types and show that the Alps are a region where cyclonic flows in general, and westerly cyclonic in particular, are the dominating large-scale weather pattern due to their location in the westerlies of the global circulation system. Comparing the weather types with three calculated sub-indices of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (FFMC, DC, DMC) at five selected sites (representative of the different climate regions in the Alps) revealed a strong dependence of meteorological forest fire danger on flow direction and cyclonality. Cyclonic weather types were characterized by a high relative humidity and in consequence a low fire danger, while the calculated fire danger in anticyclonic weather situations was significantly higher. Furthermore, strong regional differences occurred in dependence on the flow direction. Northerly winds resulted in low fire danger north of the Alps, due to orographic enhanced precipitation, and high forest fire danger south of the Alps, because of dry katabatic foehn winds. In general, the stations in the Northern Alps showed significantly lower fire index values than the stations in the south and additionally a stronger seasonal variation with considerably higher index values in summer. Regional differences were highest for the FFMC, followed by the DMC and the DC, and could be attributed to the time lag of different forest soil layers. DMC and DC relate to a rather thick soil layer which reacts very slowly and since weather types in the Alps usually change every 7th day, drying of this deep layer is too slow to reveal significant differences between the regions. The Alpine forest fire database was analyzed on a national basis to identify correlations between observed fires and large-scale weather types. 95% of the observed fires in the EU-defined Alpine Space in the past decade occurred in the two southern countries Italy and France. This was likely due to both favorable climatic conditions and better database quality in these two countries. Unfortunately, the datasets of some regions north of the Alps (e.g. in Switzerland, Germany, Austria) were very patchy. A strong human influence on the Alpine fire regime resulted in a generally low correlation between weather types and observed forest fires. Surprisingly, many forest fires occurred in conjunction with cyclonic weather types. This could be explained by the start date of the fire which was mostly at the end of a drought period when the largescale synoptical conditions had already turned to cyclonic. Nevertheless, most and biggest fires occurred during high pressure systems and other anticyclonic situations when the fuels were completely dry.
Forest@ - Rivista di Selvicoltura ed Ecologia Forestale, 2008
... Citation: Valese E, Anfodillo T, Rossi S, Carraro V, Deslauriers A, Carrer M, Monai M, Lemess... more ... Citation: Valese E, Anfodillo T, Rossi S, Carraro V, Deslauriers A, Carrer M, Monai M, Lemessi A, Ramon E, 2008. ... Il Duff Moisture Code (DMC) indica il contenuto idrico degli strati organici moderatamente profondi e la profondità che il fuoco sarà in grado di raggiungere ...
In Italy, about 45,000 ha of forest areas are burned each year. The ignitions are mainly human-ca... more In Italy, about 45,000 ha of forest areas are burned each year. The ignitions are mainly human-caused (over 90 percent) and about 50 percent are arsons. The recent Italian National Law n. 353/2000 therefore prescribes that costs of human-caused fires must be refunded by the person responsible (when discovered). Two main components of the costs are identified: those paid for the active fire-fighting operations and the costs due to forest ecosystem disturbance. This study proposes a methodological framework for estimating the total costs of forest fires and applies the method to a specific area (Veneto region) of the north-eastern Italy. The costs of active fire-fighting were calculated taking into account all Regional forest fire-fighting organizations. Data on volunteers and regional operators, forest fire statistics, equipment and machinery types and use were studied and unit costs (€ h -1 ) calculated at both provincial and regional level. Environmental costs are estimated accounting for different forest benefits: -wood production; -climate change mitigation (CO 2 stocks); -nature and biodiversity conservation; -hydrogeological protection; -tourism activity. Environmental cost complies with the Veneto region forest situation. It is computed by local prices and considering the 2003 Forest Inventory. This method is designed to require very few input data to be measured in the burnt area namely the percentage of dead trees, stand age, distance from the main road and the length of it that could be damaged by falling rocks. A GIS-ACCESS application allows cost computation to be automated and to integrate all the results. These results will be used in legal proceedings when the person responsible for a fire is caught.
Starting in September 2009, the Alpine Space Interreg-project Alp-FFIRS (Alpine Forest Fire waRni... more Starting in September 2009, the Alpine Space Interreg-project Alp-FFIRS (Alpine Forest Fire waRning System) was launched with the aim of monitoring and reducing forest fire hazard in the Alpine environment through prevention and mitigation actions. In the framework of the project, a harmonised forest fire data base was build making for the first time possible characterizing the forest fire regime in the Alpine region and to highlight the main differences with respect to fires in the Mediterranean area. For the whole Alpine Space, basic statistics are applied in order to quantify the link between fire frequency and burned area at a global scale. A more detailed analysis has been carried out for some European Alpine regions, depending basically on the amount of features and spatial attributes available. In this way spatial and temporal variability of the Alpine fire regime is identified. The analysis of the forest fire data confirms the presence of a mixed fire regime with a winter season displaying mostly quick spreading human-induced surface fires at low altitudes with a concentration in March-April and a summer season with a peak of lightning-induced fires in July-August. Annual fire frequency differs from region to region and especially from the northern to the southern slope of the Alps. Nevertheless, a general increase in lightning-induced fires during the mid-summer may be detected. Among fires of known cause, most events and burnt areas may be linked to negligence and premeditated human actions. Depending on the region and the season up to 30% of the fires are induced by lightning, especially on the southern slopes of the Alps. The main differences in respect to the Mediterranean fire regime are therefore, the existence of a peak in fire frequency and burned areas in spring and a consistent portion of light-induced fires in the high summer season.
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Papers by eva valese
Parks and professionals from Italy and other Countries. Interventions have regarded integrated objectives (fire hazard reduction; habitat conservation; forest and grazing management), and involved several vegetation types (broadleaved and conifer forests; Mediterranean and Continental shrublands; grasslands). Studies on fire behaviour and ecology have helped to set prescriptions for specific objectives and environments. Results have been transferred to professionals through training sessions. Several common elements are outlined: integrated objectives, multidisciplinary character, training and research products. Ecological questions, certification to the use of fire, communication to local communities and the proposal of new studies, are some of the issues outlined in the discussion. The present study is the first review at national level and we hope it will help to deepen the meaning and limitations of a technique which is an effective tool to prevent wildfires when integrated in the forest and land planning process.
Parks and professionals from Italy and other Countries. Interventions have regarded integrated objectives (fire hazard reduction; habitat conservation; forest and grazing management), and involved several vegetation types (broadleaved and conifer forests; Mediterranean and Continental shrublands; grasslands). Studies on fire behaviour and ecology have helped to set prescriptions for specific objectives and environments. Results have been transferred to professionals through training sessions. Several common elements are outlined: integrated objectives, multidisciplinary character, training and research products. Ecological questions, certification to the use of fire, communication to local communities and the proposal of new studies, are some of the issues outlined in the discussion. The present study is the first review at national level and we hope it will help to deepen the meaning and limitations of a technique which is an effective tool to prevent wildfires when integrated in the forest and land planning process.