Special issue: Forest fires: risk, consequences and technological advances in their analysis and management

15-01-2025

Special issue:

Forest fires: risk, consequences and technological advances in their analysis and management

Special issue linked to the XI FuegoRED International Congress (International Thematic Network: Effects of fire on forest ecosystems), October 2024, Salamanca (https://fuegored2024.usal.es/ ).

_____________

The wildfire regime is undergoing significant changes due to factors related to climate change and disturbances in human activities. In this scenario, it is crucial to understand and manage forest fires not only as isolated events, but as components interrelated with other processes of the Earth system. To quantify the risk and assess the impact of fire from a multidisciplinary approach, it is essential to develop and use modelling and monitoring tools at different spatio-temporal scales, combining advanced geospatial technologies with traditional methods of field data collection. This perspective allows identifying patterns, assessing damage and designing recovery strategies adapted to each context, optimising decision-making and planning of long-term strategies. On the other hand, promoting awareness and training in forest fire management is essential for society to understand the magnitude of this problem and actively participate in its prevention and control.

The topics to be addressed in this special issue are summarized in the following thematic lines:

  • Wildfire prevention and management: Strategies and techniques for fire prevention; Forest management policies and practices to reduce fire risk; Evaluating the effectiveness of fuel treatments.
  • Ecological and environmental impact: Effects of forest fires on biodiversity; soil, hydrological and geomorphological consequences.
  • Recovery and restoration: Post-fire restoration strategies; Natural and assisted regeneration of affected ecosystems; Resilience assessment.
  • Technology and Modelling: Using remote sensing and GIS technologies for fire monitoring; Predictive models of fire behaviour; Innovations in early detection and response to fires.
  • Social and economic aspects: Impact of forest fires on local communities; Economic costs associated with fire prevention and suppression; Public policies and resource management for fire mitigation.
  • Global Change and Forest Fires: Relationship between global change and fire frequency/intensity; Adaptation of forest management strategies to climate change; Future projections of fire risk under different climate scenarios.
  • Training, Innovation and Education in forest fires.

Deadline for submission of manuscripts: April 2025 (contributions will be published in preprint format with their corresponding DOI). To submit your manuscripts, please follow the detailed instructions on the journal's platform (English or Spanish)

https://publicaciones.unirioja.es/ojs/index.php/cig/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

The guest editorial committee:

Fernando Pérez-Cabello (Department of Geography and Land Management; Institute of Environmental Sciences of Aragon –IUCA–, University of Zaragoza)

Raquel Montorio Llovería (Department of Geography and Land Management; Institute of Environmental Sciences of Aragon –IUCA–, University of Zaragoza)

Marcos Francos (Department of Geography, Research Group: Geography, Environment, Planning and Society (GEOMAPS), University of Salamanca)