Segment-level modeling of wildfire susceptibility in Iranian semi-arid oak forests: Unveiling the pivotal impact of human activities

Sadeghi, Akram; Ahmadi Nadoushan, Mozhgan; Ahmadi Sani, Naser

doi:10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100496

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Furthermore, they serve as a natural barrier to cloud movement, promoting increased rainfall, while their dense vegetation facilitates water storage and gradual release into waterways 24 . Recognized globally as a biodiversity hotspot, the Zagros area and its oak forests boast a rich array of plant and animal species 25 . In recent years, the Zagros Mountains have experienced a surge in both the frequency and severity of wildfires, prompting concern among researchers and policymakers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fire protection priorities in the oak forests of Iran with an emphasis on vertebrate habitat preservation

Sayahnia,

Ommi,

Khoshnamvand

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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This study examines the impact of fire incidents on wildlife and habitats in the western oak forests of Iran (Zagros region). These forests are globally recognized for their exceptional biodiversity but are frequently threatened by wildfires. To achieve this, the study uses the space–time scan statistics permutation (STSSP) model to identify areas with a higher frequency of fires. The study also analyzes the effects of fires on the Zagros forests from 2000 to 2021 using remote-sensing MODIS data. Also, to understand the elements at risk of fire, burned areas were assessed based on the richness of vertebrate species, determined by the distribution of 88 vertebrate species. The results show that the annual fire rate in the Zagros forests is 76.2 (fire occurrences per year), calculated using the Poisson distribution. Findings show the highest fire rates are found in the northwest and a part of the south of the Zagros. The northwest of the Zagros also has the largest number of single fires and clusters, indicating a wide spatial distribution of fire in these regions. On the other side, it was unexpectedly found that these regions have the richest number of species and higher habitat value. The results demonstrate a significant correlation between the value of the habitat and the extent of burned areas (p < 0.05). The study also reveals that the greatest impact of fires is on small vertebrates. The overlap of frequent fire spots with the richest regions of Zagros oak forests in terms of vertebrate diversity emphasizes the need for strategic forest risk reduction planning, especially in these priority zones.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%