Analysis the Interaction between the Bioclimate and Forest Fires in the Central Rif (Morocco)

Authors

  • El Mazi Mohamed
  • Hmamouchi Mostafa
  • Bouhlal Abdeslam
  • Saber Er-riyahi

Keywords:

Bioclimate, Fire, Severity, Climate change, Central Rif, Morocco

Abstract

Fire outbreaks have always been a serious threat to forests worldwide. The current climate change, characterised by rising temperatures, decreasing precipitation and more frequent extreme weather events, could increase the extent of fire risk. In Morocco, forest fire outbreaks are regarded as the main threat to forest degradation, causing immense economic and ecological damage. Mitigating the impacts of the fire requires a detailed analysis of the climate trends and the response of forests to these changes. The objective of this study is to analyse the relationship between bioclimates and fires in the Central Rif. A series of fire outbreaks occurred between 2012-2021, were classified in terms of their severity and then confronted with the bioclimatic stage map. The results indicate that the fuel biomass is a major factor of the fire spread. The ANOVA test shows a significant relationship between the burn severity and bioclimatic stages. Forests in humid, subhumid bioclimatic stages with cool winters or temperate winters are vulnerable to fire because of the high fuel biomass that develops there.

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Published

2022-08-30

Issue

Section

Articles