| Title: |
Comparing Pre- and Post-Fire Strategies to Mitigate Wildfire-Induced Soil Erosion in Two Mediterranean Watersheds |
| Authors: |
Akli Benali; Yacine Benhalima; Bruno Aparício; Sandeep Timilsina; Jacob Keizer; Alan Ager |
| Source: |
Forests ; Volume 16 ; Issue 8 ; Pages: 1202 |
| Publisher Information: |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Collection: |
MDPI Open Access Publishing |
| Subject Terms: |
risk; management; landscape; optimization; effectiveness; leverage; severity; cost |
| Subject Geographic: |
agris |
| Description: |
Wildfires accelerate soil erosion. Preventive fuel management and post-fire control measures are two distinct strategies that can be used to mitigate wildfire-induced soil loss with varying effectiveness and costs. Here, we quantified the impacts and effectiveness of pre- versus post-fire treatment strategies on soil loss mitigation. We coupled fire simulations with soil erosion modelling to estimate annual wildfire-induced soil loss for two watersheds in Portugal. We identified optimal treatment locations with the aim of maximizing the reduction in soil loss, and estimated treatment effectiveness using treatment leverage and cost-effectiveness. Both mitigation strategies were predicted to reduce post-fire soil loss, with effects increasing with treatment extent. Treatments had a strong mitigation effect particularly in extreme fire years. Results indicated that there was no single mitigation strategy that fits all watersheds, and the choice was largely influenced by wildfire and treatment frequency. For the most fire-prone watershed, Castelo de Bode, fuel treatments were the most effective strategy, being approximately 2-fold cheaper and more effective than post-fire treatments. Treatments were more effective and exhibited lower variability in years with higher soil loss. Our results show that the most cost-effective combinations of treatment strategies vary with the soil loss reduction objective. Relevant treatment synergies were identified that can help land managers to maximize the attainment of soil loss mitigation goals ensuring the best use of resources. This work contributes to a better understanding of how post-fire soil loss can be mitigated, contributing for better resource allocation while maximizing specific management goals. |
| Document Type: |
text |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
Natural Hazards and Risk Management; https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f16081202 |
| DOI: |
10.3390/f16081202 |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081202 |
| Rights: |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.182A2D8 |
| Database: |
BASE |