Evolution of wildfires, burned areas, and affected species in Middle Atlas forests (Morocco) from 2000 to 2020
Background
The recent increase in wildfire occurrences threatens both natural and human-made landscapes across diverse geographic regions. They significantly reduce forest cover, disrupt ecological systems, and alter atmospheric conditions, leading to the loss of green resources, increased gas emissions, and severe effects on human lives and livelihoods. The hot climates, prolonged droughts, and fire-prone vegetation in Mediterranean forests, including coniferous trees and sparse ground cover, make these regions especially susceptible to ignition and rapid fire spread. To address these challenges, researchers and land managers must systematically assess wildfire occurrences, identify their causes, and evaluate their impacts to develop effective strategies that protect natural resources and reduce damage.
Goals and Methods
This study examines the wildfire status in three forest zones in Morocco—Fez, Boulemane, and Sefrou—over the past two decades (2000–2020), focusing on wildfire occurrences, burned areas, and affected species. The researchers selected these zones in the Middle Atlas Mountains for their rich and diverse forest ecosystems, endemic species, and the lack of prior documented wildfire studies in the region. The researchers collected field data to create spatial visualizations of wildfire distribution and frequency using GIS. They also conducted statistical analyses to investigate differences and correlations between wildfires, burned areas, and affected plant species, as well as to evaluate how landscape features and climatic conditions influence wildfire behavior and impacts.
Conclusions and Takeaways
The study revealed a 215.38% increase in the number of wildfires in Morocco’s Middle Atlas Mountains from 2000 to 2020. Sefrou experienced the highest frequency of events, followed by Boulemane, where wildfires spread across extensive forest and steppe areas. Fez experienced the fewest wildfires, with most concentrated in pre-urban forests. Wildfires in the region peaked during the hot summer months, aligning with trends observed in Mediterranean climates. The findings show that Pinus halepensis and Quercus rotundifolia were the most affected species, experiencing the largest burned areas. The analysis demonstrated that insolation and maximum temperatures increased wildfire frequency and burned areas, while altitude, humidity, and precipitation reduced burned areas. To improve wildfire management, the study recommends rapidly mapping affected areas after fires, increasing field visits by officials during summer in remote mountainous regions, reforesting with local plant species, maintaining forest roads, creating water points near high-risk zones, and using unmanned aerial vehicles to improve forest monitoring. These strategies aim to mitigate wildfire impacts and strengthen forest resilience in the Middle Atlas and similar regions.
Reference:
Evolution of wildfires, burned areas, and affected species in Middle Atlas forests (Morocco) from 2000 to 2020. Trees, Forests and People. 2022;10:100319. doi:10.1016/j.tfp.2022.100319.