Fantina Tedim

Forest Fires in Europe: Facts and Challenges

Abstract Forest fires (term used in Europe to designate the unwanted fires burning forests and wild lands) constitute a serious problem for Europe. Frequently, Thought of almost exclusively as a problem for France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, this chapter introduces how fire is now a hazard that affects most of the European countries. Although, a sharp gradient exists from the South to the North, in terms of fire regime (e.g., contributing and causing factors, fire frequency and area burned, fire behavior), the problem is common; no country seems exempt. The chapter discusses how contemporary forest fire risk can only be understood from a historical perspective and how this risk is growing exponentially as a result of high and increasing population density and a creeping urban sprawl that is increasing the extent and complexity of the wildland urban interface. This chapter also discusses how significant changes in land-use patterns are conflicting with historical land use practices are affecting the sustainable socioeconomic development in Europe. The impact of changes in critical climatic and weather conditions, such as during recurring heat waves and droughts, is discussed, as is their implications for reconciling social and economic development, environmental concerns, and living with forest fires in a sustainable and dynamic equilibrium in a European context.Forest fires (term used in Europe to designate the unwanted fires burning forests and wild lands) constitute a serious problem for Europe. Frequently, Thought of almost exclusively as a problem for France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, this chapter introduces how fire is now a hazard that affects most of the European countries. Although, a sharp gradient exists from the South to the North, in terms of fire regime (e.g., contributing and causing factors, fire frequency and area burned, fire behavior), the problem is common; no country seems exempt. The chapter discusses how contemporary forest fire risk can only be understood from a historical perspective and how this risk is growing exponentially as a result of high and increasing population density and a creeping urban sprawl that is increasing the extent and complexity of the wildland urban interface. This chapter also discusses how significant changes in land-use patterns are conflicting with historical land use practices are affecting the sustainable socioeconomic development in Europe. The impact of changes in critical climatic and weather conditions, such as during recurring heat waves and droughts, is discussed, as is their implications for reconciling social and economic development, environmental concerns, and living with forest fires in a sustainable and dynamic equilibrium in a European context.

Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment of Forest Fires and Coastal Erosion: Evidences from Case-Study Analysis in Portugal

Abstract In Portuguese case study, were considered two hazards with very different characteristics. Coastal erosion is mainly triggered by storms events. Coastal erosion is influenced by the regional context and the sedimentary budget in the coast (partially influenced by human action). For the same hydrodynamic conditions the coastal erosion can be reversible if sedimentary budget is positive or equilibrated, on the contrary, it is irreversible if the sedimentary budget is negative. Contrarily, most forest fires have an anthropogenic origin being one of the most predictable hazards. In the validation of the Move framework for these two hazards different methodologies were proposed. An Index of Coastal Erosion Exposure and Fragility, applied to three scenarios of erosion of land in the next 30 years (Very likely, Likely, Possible) was elaborated. It was also proposed Indicators of Coastal Erosion Resilience which were decomposed into capacity to anticipate, to cope, and to recover and cover five main types of resilience (i.e., physical, environmental, economic, social, and institutional). For forest fires were defined indicators for the three components and dimensions considered by the MOVE’s framework. Each one of these indicators has meaning in itself and can be used to promote vulnerability reduction, even though all indicators can be aggregated by dimension and component until obtain a single value to express the overall vulnerability. The main challenge was deciding on the weight of each indicator mainly of the social ones, of each dimension, and each component. Some of the indicators selected for coastal erosion and forest fire vulnerability assessment are hazard independent and can be shared by several hazards. The indicators lists presented for both test cases try to cover all the vulnerability roots, however some variables can be measured using another indicators according to the scale of analysis, data availability, and environment and social characteristics of the area. This reflects some flexibility on the framework operationalization without negative impacts in vulnerability assessment. The implementation of MOVE’s framework is important to enhance coastal erosion and forest fire risk management. If the factors that influence vulnerability are understood, state agencies will be in a better position to make informed choices regarding risk reduction and how the communities can be mobilized to collaborate on it.

Simulation of the 1755 Tsunami Flooding Area in the Algarve (Southern Portugal): The Case-Study of Portimao

The November 1st 1755 earthquake remains the most powerful and destructive to hit Europe so far. Although frequently associated with the city of Lisbon, this earthquake caused similar or greater damage and casualties in the southwest of the Algarve, where the seismic intensity was estimated at IX-X Mercalli Intensity Scale. Some minutes later, a tsunami increased the dimension of the disaster. Using simple techniques of simulation, we estimated the potential impacts of the occurrence of a similar event to the 1755 tsunami nowadays in Portimao.

Wildfires: International Perspectives on Their Social—Ecological Implications

This chapter introduces the fact that of the several natural hazards contemporary communities may encounter, the complex interdependencies that exist between people and the forest sources of wildfire hazards make wildfire a unique hazard. It then proceeds to provide an overview of how historical patterns of interdependence between people and forests coupled with recent trends in population growth and their encroachment on forest environments for lifestyle and recreation are increasing risk. Next, it outlines a social–ecological approach to framing and managing wildfire risk and discusses environmental, ecological, and social factors that play complementary roles in the development and thus the management of wildfire risk. The chapter introduces international case studies that discuss the historical, social, cultural, and ecological aspects of wildfire risk management in countries with a long history of dealing with this hazard (e.g., United States and Australia) and in countries (e.g., Taiwan) where wildfire hazards represent a new and growing threat to the social and ecological landscape.

The forest fires vulnerability: considerations on conceptual and methodological issues

Recent changes of rural territories and forest have led contemporary societies to become more vulnerable to manifestations of danger for forest fires and, in particular, to fires in the wildland-urban interface. It is therefore important to understand and clarify the concepts and know the territorial dynamics of the of wildland urban-interface.

A comparative analysis of forest fire policies in protected areas in Portugal and in the state of Santa Catarina (Brazil): a general approach

Recent data suggest that both Portugal and Brazil have seen an increase in the number of forest fires in protected areas. In Portugal, between 1992 and 2003 the annual average area burned in protected areas was 10,418 ha and in the period 2001-2005 was 16,025 ha. Nevertheless, in Brazil, the state of Santa Catarina stands out as the state recording a decrease in the number of fires. Based on these facts, the main objectives of the present research are to analyse the incidence, severity and causes of forest fires in protected areas in both countries and to assess the impacts of prevention and combat policies as well as the strategies and models implemented in the recovery of burned areas.