Comparative study of clearing and prescribed burning treatments for fuel reduction in forest fire prevention in the municipality of Cabrillanes (León)

29 páginas, figuras [ES] Los incendios forestales suponen un gran problema ambiental, ya que cada vez son más grandes y virulentos, por eso es tan importante aplicar medidas de prevención. En este estudio se comparan dos métodos preventivos para la reducción de combustible forestal: la quema controlada y el desbroce. El estudio se ha realizado en un matorral de alta montaña dominado por Calluna vulgaris, en una zona situada al norte de la provincia de León con gran recurrencia de incendios forestales, en tres parcelas por tratamiento. Se estudian las variables de riqueza y cobertura de herbáceas y riqueza, cobertura y altura de las especies leñosas, además, de la cobertura de suelo descubierto. Los resultados indican que, con la quema prescrita, el estrato herbáceo es el que mejor se ha recuperado, junto con una pequeña cobertura de suelo descubierto. Con respecto a las especies leñosas, no se encontraron diferencias entre los tratamientos de quema y desbroce, pero sí se mostró que los tratamientos afectaron negativamente a su regeneración [EN] Forest fires represent a major environmental problem, as they are becoming larger and more virulent, and that is why it is so important to apply preventive measures. In this study, two different preventive methods for forest fuel reduction are being compared: controlled burning and clearing. The study was carried out in a high mountain scrubland dominated by Calluna vulgaris, located in the northern area of the province of León with a high recurrence of forest fires, in three plots per treatment. The variables of herbaceous richness and cover, richness, cover and height of woody species, as well as bare ground cover, were studied. The results indicate that, with prescribed burning, the herbaceous stratum is the one that has recovered the best, with a lower cover in bare ground. Regarding woody species, no differences were found between the burning and clearing treatments, but it was shown that the treatments had a negative effect on their regeneration