Manuel Francisco Marey-Pérez

Forest fire spatial pattern analysis in Galicia (NW Spain)

Knowledge of fire behaviour is of key importance in forest management. In the present study, we analysed the spatial structure of forest fire with spatial point pattern analysis and inference techniques recently developed in the Spatstat package of R. Wildfires have been the primary threat to Galician forests in recent years. The district of Fonsagrada-Ancares is one of the most seriously affected by fire in the region and, therefore, the central focus of the study. Our main goal was to determine the spatial distribution of ignition points to model and predict fire occurrence. These data are of great value in establishing enhanced fire prevention and fire fighting plans. We found that the spatial distribution of wildfires is not random and that fire occurrence may depend on ownership conflicts. We also found positive interaction between small and large fires and spatial independence between wildfires in consecutive years.

Is phytoremediation without biomass valorization sustainable? - comparative LCA of landfilling vs. anaerobic co-digestion.

This study examines the sustainability of phytoremediation for soils contaminated with heavy metals, especially the influence of management of the produced metal-enriched biomass on the environmental performance of the complete system. We examine a case study in Asturias (north of Spain), where the land was polluted with Pb by diffuse emissions from an adjacent steelmaking factory. A Phytoremediation scenario based on this case was assessed by performing a comparative life cycle assessment and by applying the multi-impact assessment method ReCiPe. Our Baseline scenario used the produced biomass as feedstock for an anaerobic digester that produces biogas, which is later upgraded cryogenically. The Baseline scenario was compared with two alternative scenarios: one considers depositing the produced biomass into landfill, and the other considers excavating the contaminated soil, disposing it in a landfill, and refilling the site with pristine soil. A sensitivity analysis was performed using different yields of biomass and biogas, and using different distances between site and biomass valorization/disposal center. Our results show that the impacts caused during agricultural activities and biomass valorization were compensated by the production of synthetic natural gas and the avoided impact of natural gas production. In addition, it was found that if the produced biomass was not valorized, the sustainability of phytoremediation is questionable. The distance between the site and the biomass processing center is not a major factor for determining the technologys sustainability, providing distances are less than 200-300 km. However, distance to landfill or to the source of pristine soil is a key factor when deciding to use phytoremediation or other ex-situ conventional remediation techniques.

Spatiotemporal analysis of vehicle collisions involving wild boar and roe deer in NW Spain

Ungulate-vehicle collisions pose a serious traffic safety hazard in the North of Spain. The understanding of underlying temporal and spatial structure of these non-random events is imperative to develop appropriate mitigation measures. This study analyses the temporal, spatial and spatiotemporal patterns of car crashes involving wild boar and roe deer in the province of Lugo (NW Spain) in the period 2006-2010 using geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial statistics. The temporal analysis--conducted at three scales: daily, weekly and seasonal--revealed that accidents are related to specific animals life cycles and to interactions with human activities. The localization of collision points with GIS discovered the sections of the autonomic road network where accidents with the two studied species concentrate. Besides, the spatial arrangement of significant hotspots was mapped through kernel density estimation over two time scales (daily and seasonal), distinguishing among 41 sets, sequentially arranged to facilitate clustering comparison and determination of spatiotemporal risky areas. This work is of valuable help for road managers to design the appropriate mitigation measures that will improve traffic safety and animal welfare.

Landscape metrics for characterization of forest landscapes in a sustainable management framework: Potential application and prevention of misuse

Abstract• The use of landscape indices in the analysis of forest landscapes offers great potential for integration of spatial pattern information in management processes, but requires understanding of the limitations and correct interpretation of results. In this sense, awareness of scale effects on landscape indices is essential, especially when the data available is restricted to low-resolution maps.• In this study, developed within the framework of the FORSEE project, the objective was to define accurately the potential usefulness of applying landscape indices to low-resolution maps commonly used in forestry studies. Landscape indices were applied to two maps differing in spatial resolution, and subsets were defined for three spatial extensions. Correlation analysis and comparison of the results were carried out to enable identification of the most suitable indices for use with low resolution data.• The analysis enabled identification of the least scale-dependent indices, which are thus more useful for extrapolating results from low-resolution data. In general terms, diversity and edge indices provided the best results.• We conclude that some (but not all) of the landscape indices can be used to analyse low-resolution maps with acceptable results. Additional advice is made to prevent misuse of the application of landscape indices.Résumé• L’utilisation d’indices de paysage dans l’analyse des paysages forestiers offre un grand potentiel pour l’intégration d’informations de modèles spatiaux dans les processus de gestion, mais exige la compréhension des limitations et une interprétation correcte de résultats. Dans ce sens, la conscience des effets d’échelle sur les indices de paysage est essentielle, particulièrement quand les données disponibles sont limitées aux cartes de basse résolution.• Dans cette étude, développée dans le cadre du projet FORSEE, l’objectif était de définir précisément l’utilité potentielle d’application des indices de paysage aux cartes de basse résolution, généralement utilisées dans les études de sylviculture. Les indices de paysage ont été appliqués à deux cartes différant par la résolution spatiale et les sous-ensembles ont été définis pour trois extensions spatiales. Une analyse de corrélation et la comparaison des résultats ont été effectuées pour permettre l’identification des indices les plus appropriés pour une utilisation avec des données de basse résolution.• L’analyse a permis l’identification des indices les moins dépendants de l’échelle, qui sont ainsi plus utiles pour extrapoler les résultats de données de basse résolution. En termes généraux, la diversité et des indices de bord ont fourni les meilleurs résultats.• Nous concluons que certains (mais pas tous) indices de paysage peuvent être utilisés pour analyser les cartes de basse résolution avec des résultats acceptables. Un conseil supplémentaire est fait pour prévenir une mauvaise utilisation des indices de paysage.

Prediction of forest fires occurrences with area-level Poisson mixed models

The number of fires in forest areas of Galicia (north-west of Spain) during the summer period is quite high. Local authorities are interested in analyzing the factors that explain this phenomenon. Poisson regression models are good tools for describing and predicting the number of fires per forest areas. This work employs area-level Poisson mixed models for treating real data about fires in forest areas. A parametric bootstrap method is applied for estimating the mean squared errors of fires predictors. The developed methodology and software are applied to a real data set of fires in forest areas of Galicia.

Multiscale delineation of landscape planning units based on spatial variation of land-use patterns in Galicia, NW Spain

The success of landscape planning and environmental management strategies depends largely on the congruence between the operational scales of landscapes and the spatial scope of the planning instruments. In order to achieve good results, landscape planning units should be designed to fit the structural and functional characteristics of the landscape. This paper describes a simple, straightforward methodology for the delineation of landscape units based on the differentiation among areas according to the trend in heterogeneity of their spatial structure. A moving-window analysis was performed with varying window sizes. This analysis enabled modeling of the spatial response of heterogeneity to multiple scales and detection of two different domains of scale. The information obtained was used to delineate a multiscale structure for landscape units. A subsequent study of the composition and configuration of landscape structure in these units verified that they all have distinct characteristics and therefore different planning needs. The areas thus differentiated can be considered as targets of specific and differentiated planning strategies, and can be seen as a preliminary zonation in which the relevant planning methodologies can be developed according to each case.

Characterization of nonindustrial private forest owners and their influence on forest management aims and practices in Northern Spain

Explaining and predicting nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) owner land management based on social, economic, and environmental factors is an increasingly important issue in policy arenas and academic research on rural development and planning. This study empirically explores and assesses management behavior by NIPF owners by analyzing attributes of landowner profile (age, educational level, primary occupation, engagement in farming, membership of professional groups, training in forestry, availability of market information, and specific knowledge and use of production criteria for timber harvesting). With the aim of predicting outcomes, a multiple regression model was constructed to investigate and quantify the probabilities of and factors influencing the participation of owners in agricultural and forestry associations. In March 2004, 103 resident forest landowners were interviewed about their commitment to and involvement in land management during 1999–2003 in Mariña Oriental, a forest region of Galicia, Northern Spain. Results suggest that professional occupation, particularly farming background, is the main factor affecting, either directly or indirectly, the forest management behavior of NIPF owners in the area. In particular, our logistic regression model for landowner membership of professional groups explained 77.9% of the variability observed in the study population, which suggests that the agricultural background of NIPF owners and their expectations from forests, represented by their future intention to enlarge the forestland base, play an important role in membership. In the region, forestry could be a valuable economic activity but it is not considered as such today. Findings could be used as a guide for design, planning, and implementation of research and policy measures that allow NIPF landowners to promote sustainable forestry for rural development.

A methodology for the analysis of the relationships between farms and their physical environment

Agricultural activity involves direct interaction with the physical environment factors in the environmental context in which the activity is developed. Galicia, northwest Spain, is an environmentally heterogeneous region that encompasses territorial spaces with different levels of suitability for each agricultural activity. In barely 30 years, the production systems of the region have evolved from self-sufficiency to commercial production; however, the requirements of production for each differ greatly. During such a transformation, many farms have disappeared while other farms have conformed to the requirements of the current production systems without changing location. Decision-making in rural planning requires knowing the spatial distribution of farms, the evolution of farm distribution and the relationship between the spatial location of farms (associated with some specific environmental characteristics) and the production systems used. The current paper describes a methodology for analysing the spatial distribution of farms and for determining the relationships between the spatial location of farms and the values of the physical environment factors that are characteristic of each spatial location. The methodology has been developed by using Agricultural Census data and is exemplified through the analysis of two crops (wheat and potato) and one farming activity (dairy farming). Results show the location of farms and the production systems used, and reveal different degrees of fit to the physical environment factors considered.

Studying the occurrence and burnt area of wildfires using zero-one-inflated structured additive beta regression

Abstract When studying the empirical phenomenon of wildfires, we can distinguish between the occurrence at a specific location and time and the burnt area measured. This study proposes using structured additive regression models based on zero-one-inflated beta distribution for studying wildfire occurrence and burnt area simultaneously. Beta distribution affords a convenient way of studying the percentage of burnt area in cases where such percentages are bounded away from zero and one. Inflation with zeros and ones enables observations without wildfires or with 100% burnt areas to be treated as special cases. Structured additive regression allows one to include a variety of covariates, while simultaneously exploring spatial and temporal correlations. Our inferences are based on an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation algorithm utilizing iteratively weighted least squares approximations as proposal densities. Application of the proposed methodology to a large wildfire database covering Galicia (Spain) provides essential information for improved wildfire management.

Are the communal forest owners involved in the management of their lands?: A qualitative analysis for the case of Galicia (Spain)

La participacion de la sociedad en las decisiones relativas a la planificacion y gestion de la tierra es esencial para alcanzar soluciones viables y duraderas en el manejo forestal. Se analizo la participacion de los propietarios de las tierras comunales para comprender mejor sus actitudes hacia la gestion de esta propiedad. Se utilizo la Grounded Theory, de Glaser y Strauss, para construir el conocimiento sobre la gestion de la propiedad que se inicia en este estudio a traves de la interpretacion de los datos de entrevistas personales llevadas a cabo en un proceso de participacion. Elegimos una muestra de comunidades vecinales para realizar entrevistas de acuerdo con el interes mostrado en el proceso de participacion publica del Plan Forestal en una zona de montana en la Comunidad Autonoma de Galicia en el noroeste de Espana. Las comunidades fueron clasificadas en i) muy activa, ii) activa y iii) pasiva, de acuerdo a su nivel de gestion y representacion geografica. Descubrimos que las comunidades mas activas tienen una gestion mas dinamica debido a su perspectiva multifuncional de los montes comunales. Y con respecto a las comunidades pasivas, su falta de interes en la gestion se debe principalmente al reconocimiento de una identidad conflictiva de la propiedad debido a problemas de origen fisico y administrativo