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Evaluation method for selecting the most suitable intensity of silvicultural intervention in relation to the estimated reduction in combustion energy load within a forest ecosystem
1  Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Zip Code: 01100, Viterbo (VT), Italy.
Academic Editor: Giorgos Mallinis

Published: 19 September 2024 by MDPI in The 4th International Electronic Conference on Forests session Forest Wildfires
Abstract:

This research develops a forest management method to select the optimal intensity of silvicultural intervention aimed to reducing combustion energy load within a forest ecosystem. Since the fuel load is the only modifiable factor in the linear intensity equation of a wildfire, thinnings are essential to prevent or mitigate wildfires. The methodology involves measuring the tree volume within a sample area, determining the volumetric difference per square meter before and after intervention, and calculating the volume of aboveground biomass removed using the specific wood density of the target species. The higher heating value of the species is calculated and multiplied by the removed biomass volume and its specific weight. By comparing pre- and post-intervention values within Byram's equation, the variation in flame front intensity can also be determined. This approach allows forest managers to decide thinning intensity based on fuel load and calorific energy. Results show that systematic thinning reduces potential combustion energy, decreasing wildfire danger and intensity. Additionally, the study calculates the kilograms per square meter of water saved post-intervention compared to what would be needed to extinguish a full-scale forest fire. This method provides a quantifiable approach for tailoring silvicultural interventions, enhancing forest resilience and safety. The data obtained from the spreadsheet is then used within the Q-GIS software to spatialize the calorific energy before and after the intervention using the geostatistical interpolation method known as kriging, which involves obtaining the different intervention scenarios for silvicultural operations. By applying this methodology, forest ecosystems can be managed in a more sustainable and suitable way, effectively balancing ecological health with wild fire prevention.

Keywords: Wildfire Prevention; Forest Management; Fuels; Calorific Value; Timber Volume; Calorific Energy; GIS

 
 
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