1. Paper presented at Wildfire 2009 Conference, June 16-17th2009, Lyndhurst, UK

2. Wildfires in Portugal: characteristics, soil degradational impacts and mitigation measures Rick Shakesby In collaboration with A.J.D. Ferreira, C.S.S. Ferreira, C.R. Stoof, E. Urbanek, R.P.D. Walsh Photo of Coimbra, 2005: António Ferreira “A global initiative to combat desertification”

3. High fire frequency since early 1980s Reasons: 1. Summer dry period 2. Highly flammable tree plantations 3. Poor litter and timber waste management 4. Improved access to forest areas Insurance claims, feuds, vandalism

4. Reduction in sediment yield caused by increasing cover of stones, vegetation and litter Post-wildfire soil erosion From: Shakesby & Doerr (2006)

5. Study sites in Portugal Águeda Basin Vale Torto

7. Steep slopes (up to 20-30°)

8. Fast-growing Eucalyptus globulus and Pinus pinaster plantations

9. High rainfall (c.1600 mm)

11. ‘Mature’ Eucalyptus (c. 12 years old) Large quantity of highly flammable undergrowth and litter

12. Management responses to fire - Eucalyptus Plough and plant Eucalyptus seedlings Allow regrowth from stumps

13. Machinery used to rip-plough before planting Eucalyptus seedlings

14. Terraces - preferred preparation for planting Eucalyptus seedlings

15. Stone armouring Preferential loss of fine sediment, organic matter and nutrients Wildfire – effect on soil erosion

16. Large loss of a range of particle sizes Rip-ploughing – effect on soil erosion Rip-ploughing disturbs quasi-stable soil, moves soil downslope and dislodges large bedrock slabs

17. Rip-ploughing & Eucalyptus seedling regrowth Wildfire & regrowth Ploughing Fire Post-fire soil erosion: schematic Soil erosion ‘Background’ soil erosion Time

19. Preferential loss of organic matter

20. Losses of N, K and P increased by 3-4 orders of magnitude (in eroded sediment)

21. Losses of P for 2 years after fire represent 19-55% of soil nutrient reserves

23. Post-fire mitigation - pine Pine needlefall Pine salvage waste

24. Salvage logging waste applied to erosion plots Soil loss reduced by 95% Eucalyptus: high amount of salvage waste Soil loss reduced by 55% Eucalyptus: low amount of salvage waste

25. Prescribed fire as a soil conservation tool Vale Torto catchment, February 20th 2009

28. Flame temperatures up to > 800°C, but relatively little soil heating (soil temperatures < 100°C)Temperature-sensitive paints Paint strips on metal bars

29. Spatial variation in fire severity Near the main drainage line Higher impact on vegetation and litter Near to the watershed Lower impact on vegetation and litter

30. Use of sediment fences to monitor soil erosion

31. Fire break/access road on catchment boundary Higher soil losses than on burnt land

34. Thank you ‘Desire’ is an EU-funded project, 2007-12 “A global initiative to combat desertification”