Forest Management and Restoration of Wildfire Affected Areas in the Mediterranean

Forests are prone to a panoply of threats that undermine their productivity and supply of ecosystem services. Due to global changes (e.g. climate, economic, social, policy, management, governance), forest management is often in sub-optimal conditions that may drive degradation processes. In the Mediterranean region, although fire is a common disturbance agent, wildfires can destroy the ecosystems not adapted to fire. Recurrent fires threaten the sustainability of the Mediterranean forests by, e.g. enhancing soil erosion and hampering ecosystems’ full recovery, leading to desertification. Inappropriate management and degradation of forests can result in the loss of carbon storage, and even to the release of the existing carbon storage pools, reversing their ability to reducing GHG concentrations in the atmosphere. To increase forest resilience to global changes, particularly the capacity to provide environmental services (e.g. carbon storage), several strategies and measures can be implemented to reduce the risk of degradation and promote the recovery of derelict forest ecosystems. Since fire is one of the major drivers of forest degradation, we present ex-ante strategiesEx-ante strategies and techniques, linked with forest planning, where the spatial distribution of forests and management of infrastructures such as roads, firebreaks, access to water, or the use of a mosaic of species and land uses, particularly with fire resistant species at strategic spots, can significantly reduce wildfire risk. In addition, several strategies and measures can be implemented after forest firesForest fire, to recover derelict soils, such as, seeding, mulching, hillslope barriers, creating infiltration opportunities, channel treatments, and ecosystem restoration. Improving forest management and implementing strategies to mitigate soil degradationSoil degradation in fire affected areas is of utmost importance to support Land Degradation Neutrality targets.