Fire behavior in Pinus halepensis thickets: Effects of thinning and woody debris decomposition in two rainfall scenarios

• Published in: Forest ecology and management Vol. 404; pp. 230 - 240
• Main Authors: Palmero-Iniesta, Marina, Domènech, Rut, Molina-Terrén, Domingo, Espelta, Josep Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.11.2017
• Subjects: Crown fire; Drought; fire damage; fire intensity; Fire severity; fire spread; forest growth; forests; Fuel load; fuel loading; Pinus halepensis; rain; reproduction; slash; Spain; Thinning; trees; uncertainty; wildfires; Wood decomposition; Spain; Wood decomposition; Fire severity; Thinning; Drought; Crown fire; Fuel load

•Thinning reduces flame length, fire spread and intensity in young pine thickets.•Fire intensity in thinned areas further declines with time due to slash decay.•Ultimately, reduction in fire intensity results in lower fire severity in pines. Thinning is recommended in overstocked thickets to improve...