Experimental prescribed burning in Turkey oak forest of Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park (Southern Italy): effects on vegetation and soil

Prescribed burning in Quercus cerris forests within the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park (Southern Italy) demonstrates long-term sustainability with minimal ecological impact. A controlled burn conducted in 2011 achieved high litter fuel consumption (80–90%) while maintaining low fire intensity, with maximum flame temperatures of 600°C but brief residence times above critical thresholds. Two years post-burn, vegetation analysis revealed no significant changes in species richness or diversity, including endemic plants, and minimal tree mortality, indicating strong resilience. Woody species like Quercus cerris and Acer campestre showed increased abundance in burned plots, suggesting fire may benefit certain species. Soil chemical and microbial properties remained unaffected, ruling out indirect effects on vegetation. These findings support prescribed burning as an effective tool for fire risk reduction without compromising biodiversity or soil health.

Esposito, A., Ascoli, D., Croce, A., Giordano, D., Catalanotti, A. E., Mazzoleni, S., Bovio, G., Salgueiro, A., Palheiro, P., Loureiro, C., & Rutigliano, F. A. (2014). Experimental prescribed burning in Turkey oak forest of Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park (Southern Italy): effects on vegetation and soil. Advances in Forest Fire Research, 536–547. https://doi.org/10.14195/978-989-26-0884-6_61