Using a fire propagation model to assess the efficiency of prescribed burning in reducing the fire hazard

摘要: Abstract We examined how fire hazard was affected by prescribed burning and fuel recovery over the first six years following treatment. Eight common Mediterranean complexes managed means of in limestone Provence (South-Eastern France) were studied, illustrating forest woodland, garrigue grassland situations. The coupled atmosphere-wildfire behaviour model FIRETEC used to simulate (ROS, intensity) these complex vegetations. temporal threshold related effectiveness reducing assessed from derivated dynamics after study showed that treatment effective for two most plant communities analysed. Thereafter, all forests shrublands highly combustible with a line intensity more than 5000 kW/m except pine stands or without oak (medium 2000 kW m −1 3 treatment). Low (900 kW m ) obtained which entirely treatment-independent since resprouter hemicryptophyte, Brachypodium retusum , is resilient fire. Fire greatly load accumulation Quercus ilex standing necromass Rosmarinus officinalis treated garrigue. Pure shrub strata similar lower due wind speed decrease at ground level under tree canopy, underlining advantage maintaining proportion canopy cover strategic fuel-break zones.