COMPARATIVE ANALYSES OF SECONDARY ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION FOLLOWING WILDFIRES IN THREE DISTINCT FOREST TYPES. A STUDY CASE FROM MOGUER, SPAIN

Abstract

Wildfires have become increasingly prevalent and destructive in forest ecosystems worldwide, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of post-fire recovery dynamics for effective conservation and management. Remote sensing technology, coupled with vegetation indices such as Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Green Red Vegetation Index (GRVI), and Red Vegetation Index (RVI), offers a powerful means to investigate these processes. In this study, we utilize remote sensing techniques to conduct a comparative analysis of secondary ecological succession following wildfires in three distinct forest types (Coniferous, Sclerophyll and Mixed) of a forest affected by fire near Moguer, Spain. Through the acquisition and analysis of multispectral satellite imagery, we monitored changes in vegetation health and recovery across the region of interest. The NBR index allowed us to assess the severity and extent of wildfire damage, while NDVI quantified vegetation greenness and regrowth. GRVI and RVI provided insights into subtle variations in vegetation composition and health. We identified distinct temporal and spatial patterns in post-fire recovery among the different forest types by applying these indices for the period between 2017 and 2021. Our findings underscore the significance of understanding the diverse responses of these ecosystems to wildfires. While common recovery patterns emerged, such as an initial decrease in NDVI followed by regeneration, variations were observed in the timing and magnitude of recovery. These distinctions are attributed to differences in species composition, fire adaptations, and ecological processes specific to each forest type. In conclusion, the utilization of NBR, NDVI, GRVI, and RVI indices allows for a more nuanced evaluation of post-fire recovery dynamics.