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FIRELAN—An Ecologically Based Planning Model towards a Fire Resilient and Sustainable Landscape. A Case Study in Center Region of Portugal

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  • Manuela R. Magalhães

    (Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Natália S. Cunha

    (Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Selma B. Pena

    (Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Ana Müller

    (Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal)

Abstract

This paper explores the role of landscape planning as a tool for rural fire prevention. It presents a methodology for a fire resilient and sustainable landscape model (FIRELAN) that articulates the ecological and cultural components in a suitable and multifunction land-use plan. FIRELAN is a conceptual and ecologically based model that recognizes river basin’ land morphology, microclimate and species combustibility as the fundamental factors that determine fire behavior and landscape resilience, along with the ecological network (EN) for achieving ecological sustainability of the landscape. The model is constituted by the FIRELAN Network and the Complementary Areas. This network ensures the effectiveness of discontinuities in the landscape with less combustible land-uses. It also functions as a fire-retardant technique and protection of wildland-urban interface (WUI). This model is applied to municipalities from Portugal’s center region, a simplified landscape severely damaged by recurrent rural fires. The results show that land-use and tree species composition should change drastically, whereas about 72% of the case study needs transformation actions. This requires a significant increase of native or archaeophytes species, agricultural areas, landscape discontinuities and the restoration of biodiversity in Natura 2000 areas. The EN components are 79% of the FIRELAN N area, whose implementation ensures soil and water conservation, biodiversity and habitats. This paper contributes to the discussion of the Portuguese rural fires planning framework.

Suggested Citation

  • Manuela R. Magalhães & Natália S. Cunha & Selma B. Pena & Ana Müller, 2021. "FIRELAN—An Ecologically Based Planning Model towards a Fire Resilient and Sustainable Landscape. A Case Study in Center Region of Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-27, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7055-:d:580738
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pena, Selma Beatriz & Magalhães, Manuela Raposo & Abreu, Maria Manuela, 2018. "Mapping headwater systems using a HS-GIS model. An application to landscape structure and land use planning in Portugal," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 543-553.
    2. Pais, Silvana & Aquilué, Núria & Campos, João & Sil, Ângelo & Marcos, Bruno & Martínez-Freiría, Fernando & Domínguez, Jesús & Brotons, Lluís & Honrado, João P. & Regos, Adrián, 2020. "Mountain farmland protection and fire-smart management jointly reduce fire hazard and enhance biodiversity and carbon sequestration," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    3. Ingrid Vigna & Angelo Besana & Elena Comino & Alessandro Pezzoli, 2021. "Application of the Socio-Ecological System Framework to Forest Fire Risk Management: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
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    1. Mariana Filipe & Angela Lomba & João Pradinho Honrado & Andreia Saavedra Cardoso, 2023. "City-Region Food Systems and Biodiversity Conservation: The Case Study of the Entre-Douro-e-Minho Agrarian Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.

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