Thinning and prescribed burning for fire hazard reduction in Pinus halepensis plantations

• DOI: 10.4129/ifm.2014.4.02
• Publication Date: 2015-02-16T10:55:12Z
• Authors: Francesco Iovino; Davide Ascoli; Andrea Laschi; Enrico Marchi; Pasquale Marziliano; Antonino Nicolaci; Giovanni Bovio
• Keywords: Thinning; Prescribed burn; Aleppo Pine; Fire hazard

This paper reports the results of first fire hazard reduction experiment in Italy which integrates thinning and prescribed burning. The study was conducted Aleppo pine stands a high fir-risk area Calabrian Region. Two with different stem density were selected. design included: i) burning followed by selective from below stand lower tree density; ii) selected higher density. Light/moderate intensity treatments applied at both sites June-July 2013. Prescribed May 2013 March 2014. Data on fuel characteristics collected before after treatments. A working time also carried out during operations. During burn operations, fireline never exceeded 100 kW/m. Maximum temperature organic soil layer 130°C, average temperatures above 60°C lasted less than 4 minutes. not consumed, no damages to adult trees observed. highlight positive effect load continuity, then potential behaviour, thus reducing susceptibility vulnerability summer wildfires. integrated approach shows how burning, latter prevention practice surprisingly very common fire-prone environment like Southern Italy, could be sustainable included ordinary forest management planning.