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- ItemOpen AccessEstimating canopy fuels across Europe with satellite data and allometric equations(International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 2024) Kutchartt, Erico; González-Olabarria, José Ramón; Aquilué, Núria; Trasobares, Antoni; Pirotti, FrancescoThis study presents results regarding the estimation of two critical variables for modelling fire behaviour and fire danger: the canopy base height (CBH) and the canopy bulk density (CBD). Both variables have been mapped as raster datasets at a 100-meter spatial resolution across Europe, harmonizing data for all EU countries. Therefore, these canopy fuels are subsequently used for further processing regarding the identification of fire danger assessment, being a key input for forest fire prevention actions. A more in-depth analysis of these findings has been submitted to a journal and is currently in a revision phase. We present here a summary of the results and ideas for future developments. The overall study consists of estimating CBH and CBD using Earth observation products combined with artificial intelligence and species-specific allometric equations, applied geo-spatially using a tree species map of Europe encompassing the 16 most important tree species. Validation was carried out by comparing the results with higher-accuracy sampling methods, combining LiDAR data and field measurements in different European latitudes, typically applied on a smaller scale and with greater detail. Results show, as expected, a higher level of uncertainty than local methods, but they are still applicable to the European scale for which they were implemented. The accuracies reported in our study, when considering aggregated data on the 7 areas in Portugal were the following: R = 0.75, RMSE = 0.890 m, and MAPE = 54% for the mean CBH, and R = 0.93, RMSE = 0.020 kg m-3, and MAPE = 57% for the mean CBD.
- ItemOpen AccessPan-European fuel map server: An open-geodata portal for supporting fire risk assessment(Elsevier, 2024) Kutchartt, Erico; González Olabarria, José Ramón; Aquilué, Núria; Garcia-Gonzalo, Jordi; Trasobares, Antoni; Botequim, Brigite; Hauglin, Marius; Palaiologou, Palaiologos; Vassilev, Vassil; Cardil, Adrian; Navarrete, Miguel Angel; Orazio, Christophe; Pirotti, FrancescoCanopy fuels and surface fuel models, topographic features and other canopy attributes such as stand height and canopy cover, provide the necessary spatial datasets required by various fire behaviour modelling simulators. This is a technical note reporting on a pan-European fuel map server, highlighting the methods for the production and validation of canopy features, more specifically canopy fuels, and surface fuel models created for the Eu ropean Union’s Horizon 2020 “FIRE-RES” project, as well as other related data derived from earth observation. The aim was to deliver a fuel cartography in a findable, accessible, interoperable and replicable manner as per F. A.I.R. guiding principles for research data stewardship. We discuss the technology behind sharing large raster datasets via web-GIS technologies and highlight advances and novelty of the shared data. Uncertainty maps related to the canopy fuel variables are also available to give users the expected reliability of the data. Users can view, query and download single layers of interest, or download the whole pan-European dataset. All layers are in raster format and co-registered in the same reference system, extent and spatial resolution (100 m). Viewing and downloading is available at all NUTS scales, ranging from country level (NUTS0) to province level (NUTS3), thus facilitating data management and access. The system was implemented using R for part of the processing and Google Earth Engine. The final app is openly available to the public for accessing the data at various scales.
- ItemOpen AccessFraming Coherence Across EU Policies Towards Integrated Wildfire Risk Management and Nature-Based Solutions(2024) Plana, Eduard; Serra, Marta; Smeenk, Annick; Regos Sanz, Adrián; Berchtold, Claudia; Huertas, Maria; Fuentes, Lola; Trasobares, Antoni; Vinders, Julie Nicole; Colaço, Maria Conceição; Bonet Lledos, José AntonioAbstract: Wildfire risk has been exacerbated across Europe by climate change favoring more damaging and severe wildfire events. This evolving wildfire risk context interacts with a broad landscape of EU policies including those on nature conservation, forestry, bioeconomy or climate and energy, all of which may increase or reduce fire hazard and the level of exposure and vulnerability of the values at risk. Coherently addressed, policies may support wildfire disaster risk management synergistically while reducing potential dysfunctions. This research conducts a content analysis of EU policiesand initiatives under the European Green Deal with respect to integrated wildfire risk management and related nature-based solutions. The results show that a consistent EU policy framework to address wildfire risk reduction in a synergic way exists, with no major conflicts in the policy design.Nevertheless, better guidance on fire-smart land management practices and the conceptualization of wildfire-related nature-based solutions may enhance a more coherent policy implementation. Additional suggestions around the legal status of wildfire protection and ‘whole of government’ governance frameworks are discussed. Notably, within the laws, policies and initiatives analyzed, the beneficial side of fire addressed by integrated fire management is either missing or not explicitly mentioned, although it is considered in policy-related supporting guidelines.
- ItemOpen AccessCurrent constraints to reconcile tropical forest restoration and bioeconomy(Springer Nature, 2024) Krainovic, Pedro Medrado; Brandao, Diego Oliveira; Resende, Angelica Faria; Schons, Stella Z.; Munhoz, Leonardo; Metzger, Jean Paul; Nascimento, Nathalia C.; Rodrigues, Ricardo Ribeiro; Brancalion, Pedro H. S; Guillemot, Joannes; Miguel Magaña, Sergio deLarge-scale forest restoration is vital for delivering a broad array of ecosystem services benefits to society. However, it is often perceived as an economically noncompetitive land use choice. Integrating economic opportunities into restoration aligns socioeconomic and environmental goals, reducing conflicts between forest production and conservation-oriented management decisions. Supply chains focusing on high-value goods can enhance the reach of forest restoration efforts and unite ecological and economic benefits in a multifunctional manner. The bioeconomy has emerged as a potential but critical driver for attracting investments in restoration. We outline the challenges and solutions to reconcile forest restoration and bioeconomy, specifically about (i) native timber production, (ii) non-timber forest products, (iii) biotechnological products, and (iv) intangible ecosystem services. This requires collaborative and multidisciplinary efforts to improve investment in large-scale projects. The intricacies of these issues intersect with research development, market dynamics, legal frameworks, and regulatory paradigms, underscoring the necessity for nuanced and tailored public policy interventions. These integrated approaches should enable tropical countries to lead the global forest-based economy and usher in a new era of forest restoration.
- ItemOpen AccessEarly detection of heartwood rot caused by Fistulina hepatica in Castanea sativa productive coppices through low‑invasive resistance drilling(Springer Nature, 2025) Meijer Mora, Andreu; Muñoz-Adalia, Emigdio Jordán; Correal‑Mòdol, Eduard; Colinas, C. (Carlos)Chestnut Red Stain (CRS) is a heartwood discoloration that widely afects Castanea sativa Mill. productive coppice stands in the northeast of Spain. At the early stages of infection, the structural properties of the wood are not afected, but still its economic value drops up to 70% due to the rejection of this wood. This disease is caused by the fungus Fistulina hepatica (Schaef.) With. and causes uncertainty to forest managers since the fungal infection is virtually impossible to detect before felling. The objective of this work was to develop an efcient detection method to evaluate the presence of F. hepatica in early stages of productive periods. A total of 72 chestnuts were analyzed through molecular methods to determine the presence of F. hepatica and with an IML resistance drill to characterize their wood. Thirteen wood quality indices were calculated and their correlation with the presence of the pathogen was evaluated using linear mixed models. We found clear diferences between healthy and infected trees in four indices. A new specifc index (Chestnut Red Stain Danger index) was designed to estimate the probability of infection by F. hepatica. The results support the hypothesis that the early presence of F. hepatica is detectable through inexpensive and fast mechanical methods early in a rotation. The results of this work will help forest managers evaluate the incidence of CRS, as well as it establishes a novel methodology for further development of resistance drilling techniques for heartwood rot detection.