Self-Resistance Forest Stands and Landscape ^†

Some forests are so valuable that we aim at avoiding their destruction when run by a fire. The principles defined to make a forest stand self-resistance are: acting on its structure or reducing its fuel. This can take different forms depending on the management goal pursued (wood production, environment, landscape, recreation, ...), the level of requirement defined and the methods to be used.

Bavella pass has been chosen to conduct a pilot experiment in order to preserve the landscape by making some stands self-resistant to fire. A touristic highlight in Corsica and a site protected for its landscape, this unique environment, had to be protected.

An analysis of spatial visibility, made under GIS from the DGM, of the most frequented sights, contributed to identifying the forest sectors to be preserved as a priority.

It revealed two situations: sectors visible from afar (external landscape) and sectors also in contact with the public (external and internal landscape). In the first case, the most important is to preserve the canopy, its continuity, shapes and colors. The second one, must also be added care of the edges with the contact zone, shape, texture, color and spatial distribution of their various elements. Interventions, to integrate a self-resistance process into this exceptional landscape, must appear natural, from the very next tourist season.

Several methods for shaping these self-resistance stands have been tested (European Marittimo program), to optimize fuel reduction depending on the situation. In closed stands, some plots were treated only by prescribed burning, others were thinned and pruned, followed by differentiated treatments of slash (scattering, crushing or prescribed burning). In open stands, heath reduction was achieved by either burning or clearing. The visual impact was analyzed regarding the different cases encountered (dense plantation, big wood, aesthetic trees with low branches, or moors).