Regeneration of Riparian and Maritime Pine Forests after a Large Wildfire on the Largest Public Forest of Portugal

• Published in: Forests 2021-04, Vol.12 (4), p.477
• Main Authors: Aguiar, Francisca C., Rodrigues, Carolina, Pina, João P., Soares, Paula
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Climate change; Coasts; Composition; Coniferous forests; Creeks & streams; Ecosystem structure; Flora; Forests; Germination; Indigenous plants; Introduced species; Invasive species; Pine; Pine trees; Pinus pinaster; Plant diversity; Precipitation; Regeneration; Riparian forests; River banks; Rivers; Seed banks; Seedlings; Seeds; Species richness; Streams; Timber; Understory; Vegetation; Wildfires
• ISSN: 1999-4907; 1999-4907
• DOI: 10.3390/f12040477

Eighty-six percent of the largest Portuguese public forest, Leiria National Forest (Mata Nacional de Leiria—MNL), central west, was burned in a wildfire in October 2017. Most of the area was covered by maritime pine stands (Pinus pinaster Aiton) crossed by riparian forests along small-sized streams. This work aims to characterize the post-fire vegetation and evaluate its natural regeneration. Sampling was carried out c. 6 months after the fire in 28 plots distributed at pine stands (3.5 × 3.5 m2) and in 24 plots (5 × 20 m2) at stream channels and riverbanks. These latter surveys were repeated in 2019. Data include the floristic composition and cover data of pine stands and streams, and the number of pine seedlings. Six months after the fire, 60% and 93% of the pre-fire species were observed at streams and pine stands, respectively. Fire severity was not related to differences in flora composition, nor with species richness. Pine seedlings were significantly more abundant in pine stands >60 years old compared to younger (