Adaptive management of Mediterranean Pinus halepensis forests in the face of climate change

The main objective of this project is to investigation and develop new tools aimed at adapting Iberian Aleppo pine forests to climate change, as well as their demonstrative application through forest management actions. will focus on the early detection of decay processes and on the improvement of the resilience of this ecosystem by increasing its vigour, its capacity to adapt to climatic aridification and the ability to recover its functions after natural disturbances. The geographical scope of the project will cover the potential area of distribution of the habitat subtype in the Iberian Peninsula, across sub-humid and semi-arid ecological gradient, including the Mediterranean slopes of the Catalan mountains and the Iberian System, the Ebro basin and the pre-Baetic mountain ranges. This will facilitate an integrated implementation of the methodology that involving the main stakeholders that are responsible for the regulation of forest management throughout the area:

- To implement silvicultural treatments aimed at improving vitality and reducing the effects of reduced water availability in a scenario of recurrence of droughts and increased evapotranspiration.

- To implement adaptive treatments to improve the resilience and adaptive capacity of Aleppo pine post-fire regeneration in a scenario of higher frequency and severe wildfires.

After the implementation of ecohydrology and post-fire treatments, a monitoring program will be carried out in the forest stands where the treatments have been executed. We measure physicochemical and biologic parameters of soil and vegetation. Measurements will be realized after the execution and annually to study if the treatments have had the desired effects or not.