Impacts of prescribed fire and mechanical shredding of aboveground vegetation for fire prevention on ecosystem properties, structure, functions and overall multi-functionality of a semi-arid pine forest

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2024-11, Vol.370, p.122527, Article 122527
• Main Authors: Plaza-Álvarez, Pedro Antonio, Lucas-Borja, Manuel Esteban, Carmona-Yáñez, María Dolores, Cortés, Domingo Calderón, Rodríguez Hidalgo, Miguel Ángel, Zema, Demetrio Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conservation of Natural Resources; Ecosystem; Ecosystem structure; Fire prevention; Fires; Forests; Pinus; Plant diversity; Soil - chemistry; Soil preparation; Soil properties; Spain
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122527

Ecosystem multi-functionality is a key concept when measured to protect forests from natural and anthropogenic disturbances, such as fire prevention techniques, must be adopted. Despite this importance, scarce studies have analysed the impacts of prescribed burning and aboveground vegetation management on ecosystem functions and overall multi-functionality. To fill this gap, this study has evaluated the changes in some ecosystem properties and structure (associated with soil characteristics and plant diversity, respectively), in important forest functions, and the overall ecosystem multi-functionality in a Mediterranean pine forest of Castilla La Mancha (Central Eastern Spain) under three site conditions: (i) undisturbed ecosystem; (ii) forest subjected to mechanical shredding of aboveground vegetation (hereafter “AVMS”); and (iii) forest treated as above and then with prescribed fire (“AVMS + PF”). The results of the study have shown that neither the PF nor AVMS have significantly modified the structure, properties and functions as well as the overall multi-functionality of the forest ecosystem. These slight impacts of the treatments are due to the low fire severity of the prescribed burning and the long time elapsed from the vegetation management. Among the studied ecosystem functions, organic matter decomposition (driven by the enzymatic activities and soil basal respiration), water cycle (influenced by soil water content and water infiltration), carbon stock (linked to soil organic matter) and biomass production decreased, when species richness and plant diversity increased. The study is useful to indicate the feasibility of forest management actions for fire prevention in delicate forest ecosystems of the Mediterranean environments. •The multifunctionality of a Mediterranean forest was not affected by prescribed fires.•Nor the prescribed fire or vegetation management have significantly modified the forest functions.•Low fire severity generated almost no impacts of fire on the forest ecosystem properties.