An Assessment of Forest Fires and CO 2 Gross Primary Production from 1991 to 2019 in Mação (Portugal)

Helena Maria Fernandez, Fernando M. Granja-Martins, Celestina M.G. Pedras, Patrícia Fernandes and Jorge M.G.P. Isidoro
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Helena Maria Fernandez: Department of Civil Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs), University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Fernando M. Granja-Martins: Department of Civil Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs), University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Celestina M.G. Pedras: Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Patrícia Fernandes: Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), 8950-285 Castro Marim, Portugal
Jorge M.G.P. Isidoro: Department of Civil Engineering, Institute of Engineering, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Forest-fire rates have increased in Southern European landscapes. These fires damage forest ecosystems and alter their development. During the last few decades, an increase in fast-growing and highly fuel-bearing plant species such as bush, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., and Pinus pinaster Ait. has been observable in the interior of Portugal. This study aims to verify this assumption by the quantification of the biomass carbon sink in the forests of the Mação municipality. Maps of fire severity and forest biomass evolution after a wildfire event were produced for the period of 1991 to 2019. To quantify carbon retention in this region, this evolution was correlated with gross primary production (GPP) on the basis of satellite imagery from Landsat 5, Landsat 8, and MODIS MYD17A2H. Results show that wildfires in Mação increased in area and severity with each passing decade due to the large accumulation of biomass promoted by the abandonment of rural areas. Before the large fires of 2003, 2017, and 2019, carbon rates reached a daily maximum of 5.4, 5.3, and 4.7 gC/m 2 /day, respectively, showing a trend of forest-biomass accumulation in the Mação municipality.

Keywords: wildfire; forest; GPP; satellite image; Mação (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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