Enrichment-planting with pines alters fuel amount and structure in endangered Araucaria araucana forests in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina

CINGOLANI, SOFÍA; MUNDO, IGNACIO A.; BARBERÁ, IVÁN; HOLZ, ANDRÉS; VEBLEN, THOMAS T.; PARITSIS, JUAN

FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2023 vol. 550

0378-1127

The introduction of non-native tree species for large-scale afforestation may alter the fire regime of native ecosystems by modifying fuel proprieties. We quantified changes in fuel abundance and structure resulting from the establishment of commercial Pinus spp. plantations in Araucaria araucana ecosystems in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. Specifically, we assessed the amount, distribution, and condition (live/dead) of surfaceand standing fine fuel in A. araucana stands with mature pine plantations (i.e. > 20 cm dbh) and in stands dominated only by A. araucana (control). Our study shows that both types of stands are prone to wildfires, but pine plantations have fuel characteristics that imply greater flammability due to higher fuel load and vertical continuity in the understory and in the overstory canopy. In the absence of fuel mitigation practices, A. araucana stands with plantations exhibit greater flammability than the control A. araucana stands, potentially promoting the occurrence and spread of fires of greater severity. This study contributes to understanding the effects of enrichment planting of pines, and possibly pine invasions, on A. araucaria ecosystem flammability and theirpotential consequences on fire behavior.