SOTABOSC

Project funded by the Barcelona Provincial Council's Technical Office for the Prevention of Forest fires. This project studies the forest understorey treatments in different types of mature Mediterranean forest stands in order to evaluate the ecological effects on the understorey and the tree stratum. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the usefulness or otherwise of carrying out these treatments from the ecological point of view, taking into account aspects such as the growth of the different species in the understorey, erosion, humidity of the soil, microclimatic changes occurring within the forest (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, etc.), temporal evolution of the remains of triturated matter, changes in combustibility and flammability (humidity of the living combustible material), changes in the specific composition, etc. Another relevant aspect is how the elimination of the understorey influences the growth of trees.

 

This evaluation is conducted by means of a characterization of the understorey before treatment and the monitoring at different times of year of all the above-mentioned variables. The project compiles a bibliography of experiences relating to understorey treatments in Mediterranean climates and particularly in Catalonia. The understorey of the forests in the Mediterranean areas of Catalonia is characterized according to information in the Third National Forest Inventory (IFN3) and the Ecological and Forest Inventory of Catalonia (IEFC). During this first year we have monitored the understorey in stands of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) in the Anoia and Bages regions located in areas burned in 1986, 1994 and 1998, and mature stands of cork oak (Quercus suber) situated in the Montnegre-Corredor national park.