Abstract
Mechanized harvesting of shrub formations as part of sustainable forest management not only helps reduce the risk of forest fires in Mediterranean environments but also provides economic benefit from the extracted biomass, contributing to the development of the bioeconomy. However, these mechanized operations require an environmental impact assessment to identify the short-term impacts, both positive and negative. This is especially important in the Mediterranean basin given the specific climatic conditions which exist. In this study, the environmental impact of mechanized shrub harvesting is analyzed in relation to (i) changes in biodiversity and in the presence and growth of species; (ii) physical and chemical properties of the soil; and (iii) changes in forest fire risk. For this purpose, a pre-harvest inventory was conducted and post-harvest monitoring schedules of 1- and 2-year durations were established in three characteristic Mediterranean shrubland formations located in the northern–central area of the Iberian Peninsula. Our results reveal that the recovery rates in biodiversity indices after harvesting were very high, with values ranging from 30 to 70% depending on the site. Two years after harvesting, the species coverage was similar to the pre-harvest scenario in some locations, although not with regards to height, the ericaceous species being those with the greatest sprouting capacity. Significant changes in the physical and chemical properties of soils were also observed. In this regard, negative impacts such as soil compaction or slight acidification were identified at some sites. However, positive effects were also found such as an increment in carbon and nitrogen content after harvesting, along with increased litter quantity a year from the clearing operation due to biomass residue left on the ground after harvesting. Furthermore, mechanical harvesting effectively modified fire behavior in all the shrub formations 2 years after clearing, with a notable reduction in fire risk at all the studied sites.
Highlights
Shrubland comprises dense thickets of evergreen sclerophyll shrubs and small trees
Mechanical harvesting in shrubland growing under a temperate Mediterranean climate leads to positive and negative environmental impacts in the short term
These impacts should be estimated through a monitoring schedule for evaluating all the effects as a whole, i.e., considering the biodiversity and regeneration of species, soil properties, and fire risk at the same time to provide an overall picture for decision-making
Summary
It is a biome that extends across the temperate zones of the Earth with a Mediterranean climate, characterized by low precipitation and a marked dry season [1] These shrublands are found in the mid-latitudes of California, southwest and southeast Australia, Chile, the Western Cape of South. Shrubs and bushes are highly abundant in the Mediterranean basin, accounting for more than 29% of the main forest habitat types [3], mainly concentrated in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. They take different forms depending on geographical location, altitude, exposure, and soil composition, and are mainly associated with
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