Full events of forest fire risk in the mountains of Portugal center. Erosion subsequent effects and punctual rehabilitations

Abstract

The mountains of central Portugal have been frequently stricken by violent forest fires, which is why we have to refer to the Açor, because it presents one of the highest rates of recurrence of forest fires in Portugal.

Among the many fires that have destroyed forest and houses, in the northern part of Portugal, stands out, by the seriousness and the size of the affected area are, the fires recorded between 13 and 20 September 1987 and between 19 and 24 July 2005, both with area burnt over 10000 hectares.

Coincidentally, a part of the burned area common to both and, moreover, also in both cases, there were rainy intensive episodes in the years immediately following the forest fires.

Thus, after the full manifestation of fire hazard, full events occur leading with erosion hazard, and some other serious consequences in terms of destruction of property and even loss of human life.

This work, while identifying some of the areas that were affected, more than cope with the destruction caused by fires, or the full manifestation of the hydrogeomorphologic hazards they caused, is to optimize the importance of rehabilitation that have been or should have been carried out in areas affected.