A Fire Risk Modelling and Spatialization by GIS

Guettouche, Mohamed Saïd; Derias, Amar; Boutiba, Makhlouf; Bounif, Mohand ou Abdallah; Guendouz, Mostefa; Boudella, Amar

doi:10.4236/jgis.2011.33022

Cited by 17 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…This latter response confirms the matriarchal regime of hamlets in Kabilya and the importance of women's activity in agriculture (Grassof 2003).…”

Section: How Respondents Learned To Use Fire and Loss Of Its Usesupporting

confidence: 67%

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Wildfire risk and its perception in Kabylia (Algeria)

Meddour-Sahar¹,

Leone²,

Limani³

et al. 2018

iForest

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(1) This research aims to study wildfire perception by residents living in Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in Kabylia (Algeria). We conducted an exploratory qualitative survey contacting 254 randomly selected individuals in eight hamlets of the Mizrana forest. Face-to-face questionnaires were administered to understand the fire risk problem. Respondents think that their homes are not exposed to fire risk and perceive their hamlets are protected against wildfires; on the contrary, they perceive their property (fields, livestock, olive trees, etc.) as exposed to fire risk. The vast majority of respondents declare to know how to defend themselves in the case of a fire event, using water and hand tools. Residents mainly use fire for stubble burning and disposal of domestic waste. Their skill in using fire as a land management tool respectively comes from their fathers, grandfathers and mothers. Results show the necessity of making resident more aware of the risks that wildfires pose to them. A culture of risk needs to be developed within the territory to limit vulnerability and the likelihood of destructive fires.

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“…This latter response confirms the matriarchal regime of hamlets in Kabilya and the importance of women's activity in agriculture (Grassof 2003).…”

Section: How Respondents Learned To Use Fire and Loss Of Its Usesupporting

confidence: 67%

“…2). The relatively high presence of women reflects the matriarchal society of Kabilia (Grassof 2003) and their direct involvement in agricultural activities.…”

Section: Demographic Information and Agroforestry Activitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildfire risk and its perception in Kabylia (Algeria)

Meddour-Sahar¹,

Leone²,

Limani³

et al. 2018

iForest

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“…Fire management challenges are not currently an object of great interest in North Africa, where recent literature on wildfires is rather scarce and mainly oriented towards fire ecology studies (Madoui et al 2006, Ouelmouhoub & Benhouhou 2007, Bekdouche et al 2011, Slimani et al 2014 or remote sensing analysis (Khader et al 2009, Guettouche et al 2011, Haddouche et al 2011). In the Western Mediterranean region, a number of researchers have approached the challenges of fire management by exploiting the knowledge of experts: with local farmers and fire experts in Spain (Zarraga Moreno 1988, Marino et al 2014, Raftoyannis et al 2014; in the analysis of training provided to Portuguese forestry workers and their opinions on fires (Colaço 2005, 2006; regarding the prevention of unwanted fires (Boström et al 2013); regarding agro-forestry farmers/landowners' attitudes towards fire prevention, including their perceptions of the causes of fires (Xavier & De Belém Martins 2010); and in the evaluation of the reduction of forest fire risk in Catalonia (Mogas & Riera 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildfires in Algeria: problems and challenges

Meddour-Sahar¹

2015

iForest

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© iForest -Biogeosciences and Forestry IntroductionIn the period 2003-2010, more than 5 million ha of forest were burned in the Mediterranean region, and more than 600 000 wildfires were registered (FAO 2013). From 2006 to 2010, approximately 269 000 fires burned a total of 1 907 512 ha of Mediterranean forests, other wooded lands (OWLs), such as shrubland and grasslands (on average 54 000 fires and 0.4 million ha per year, respectively), and agricultural lands (FAO 2013); of the total area burnt (38%), about 731 000 ha were forests. Approximately 78% of these fires burned in four southern countries of the EU (Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain), and 50% only in Portugal and Spain.In the future climate change prediction scenarios, wildfire risk is forecast to increase nearly everywhere in the Mediterranean region (Giannakopoulos et al. 2009), with the southern Mediterranean area being at higher risk all year round. Projections for 2030 to 2060 suggest that the Maghreb (and the Balkans, North Adriatic, Central Spain, and Turkey) will suffer at least an additional month of high wildfire risk (Giannakopoulos et al. 2009).Whereas the five southern member states of the EU (or Western Mediterranean countries -FAO 2013), the so-called fire club (Vélez 2000), are well considered within the fire literature, the same cannot be said for the southern Mediterranean Maghreb countries. For instance, it was only in 2010 that the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) started to include Northern African countries in the mapping of burnt areas and the assessment of fire danger (European Commission 2013). The wildfire problems experienced in some Middle East and North African (MENA) countries, such as Algeria, are therefore almost unknown despite the fact that they significantly contribute to general wildfire statistics within the Mediterranean Basin area (Meddour-Sahar et al. 2013a). In the period from 2006 to 2010, for example, the total number of fires recorded in Algeria was 12 230 compared with 6 996 in Greece. The total burnt area in Algeria during the same period was 147 685 ha, representing about 8% of the total burnt area in Mediterranean countries (including forests, OWLs, and agricultural lands); this percentage was greater than for Bulgaria (3%), Turkey (3%) and France (3% -FAO 2013).Fire management challenges are not currently an object of great interest in North Africa, where recent literature on wildfires is rather scarce and mainly oriented towards fire ecology studies . Moreover, the Community-Based Fire Management (CBFiM) approach to fire management (FAO 2011) adopts similar tools, such as the Participatory Rapid Appraisal, to identify the strengths and weaknesses of projects. We consider expert analyses to be a potential and practical tool for developing a deeper understanding of fire management issues in Algeria, which provides a highly useful and relevant case study for exploring some of the challenges related to wildfires (i.e., fires are a permanent threat

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“…Impact of fires could be calculated using either a vulnerability measure related to the degree of exposure only (Chuvieco et al 2010;Guettouche et al 2011) or a quantitative measure of potential losses (Ager et al 2007;Massada et al 2009;Roloff et al 2012). The biodiversity loss index computed here combined both direct potential loss through the diversity index and long-term potential loss through the vulnerability index.…”

Section: Fire Risk Evaluation and Limitation Of The Modeling Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildfire risk for main vegetation units in a biodiversity hotspot: modeling approach in New Caledonia, South Pacific

Mangeas

Curt

Ibanez

et al. 2014

Ecology and Evolution

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Wildfire has been recognized as one of the most ubiquitous disturbance agents to impact on natural environments. In this study, our main objective was to propose a modeling approach to investigate the potential impact of wildfire on biodiversity. The method is illustrated with an application example in New Caledonia where conservation and sustainable biodiversity management represent an important challenge. Firstly, a biodiversity loss index, including the diversity and the vulnerability indexes, was calculated for every vegetation unit in New Caledonia and mapped according to its distribution over the New Caledonian mainland. Then, based on spatially explicit fire behavior simulations (using the FLAMMAP software) and fire ignition probabilities, two original fire risk assessment approaches were proposed: a one-off event model and a multi-event burn probability model. The spatial distribution of fire risk across New Caledonia was similar for both indices with very small localized spots having high risk. The patterns relating to highest risk are all located around the remaining sclerophyll forest fragments and are representing 0.012% of the mainland surface. A small part of maquis and areas adjacent to dense humid forest on ultramafic substrates should also be monitored. Vegetation interfaces between secondary and primary units displayed high risk and should represent priority zones for fire effects mitigation. Low fire ignition probability in anthropogenic-free areas decreases drastically the risk. A one-off event associated risk allowed localizing of the most likely ignition areas with potential for extensive damage. Emergency actions could aim limiting specific fire spread known to have high impact or consist of on targeting high risk areas to limit one-off fire ignitions. Spatially explicit information on burning probability is necessary for setting strategic fire and fuel management planning. Both risk indices provide clues to preserve New Caledonia hot spot of biodiversity facing wildfires.

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A Fire Risk Modelling and Spatialization by GIS

Cited by 17 publications

References 5 publications

Wildfire risk and its perception in Kabylia (Algeria)

Wildfire risk and its perception in Kabylia (Algeria)

Wildfires in Algeria: problems and challenges

Wildfire risk for main vegetation units in a biodiversity hotspot: modeling approach in New Caledonia, South Pacific

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