Duration: 2023 – 2025
Cised team members
Isabel Brás
Filipe Caldeira
João Menoita
Ana Matos
The protection and conservation of burned forest areas requires specific actions that must be developed with a strong awareness of the local reality regarding climate, hydrogeology, social expectations and economy. Recent studies show that the ecological effects of post-fire rehabilitation treatments need to be determined and taken into account when defining forest management models, since some options may increase the level of soil degradation.
Consequently, it is urgent to assess the effects of the options taken and ensure that they are included in the decision-making process. The main objective of R-FOREST project is to work on recent forest areas burned to be more resistant to fires and erosion, and thereby increase the resilience of forest ecosystems. The specific objectives intended to be achieved are: 1- Assess the effect of fire on the physical and chemical dynamics of the burned soil; 2 – Assess the soil restoration using mulching with different organic additives and its effect on ecosystem recovery, and use satellite images to improve the characterization and prediction of its constituents; 3- Modell and validate of the observed effects to predict the evolution of soil properties; and 4 - Envelop all stakeholders, including landowners and authorities, on the importance of soil protection in order to have a resilient ecosystem.
First, the characterization of the burned area will be made, evaluating the effects of fire on the physical and chemical properties of the soil. Then, 2 areas with about 0,5 hectare each (0,5 ha burned and 0,5 ha unburned) will be used to develop different soil recovery options through mulching, using urban waste composts and agro-forestry waste. The criteria for choosing the best additives will be based on soil recovery capacity, measuring environmental indicators. Sampling campaigns will be carried out to evaluate the soil physical and chemical properties, soil quality indices through the content of humic substances and bioindicators. Using univariate and multivariate statistical techniques, comparations will be made between the studied areas to highlight the effects of the intervention. Predictive models and their validation will allow describing structural patterns and comparing the effect of climate and soil restoration techniques on their quality. The success of the selected measures implementation will depend mainly on the involvement of landowners who should be aware for the crucial idiosyncrasies of sustainable forest management in the region, combined with voluntary conservation efforts, to maintain biodiversity, increasing the intrinsic value of the forest. All purposes will be integrated the involvement of researchers, landowners, companies and local associations in a participatory community panel.