Preventing fire risks at Serra de Xurés Natural Park

Background

The Natural Park Serra do Xurés in Galicia, conforms together with the Peneda-Garés National Park, the nucleus of the Geres-Xurés Transfrontier Biosphere Reserve. With a total of 267.958 ha.,this area marks the transition between the Mediterranean and Atlantic climates and host a vast amount of habitat and species of outstanding ecological value, as well as an extensive collection of tumuli (mámoas) and archaeological sites from the Romanisation period. Unfortunately, the area is at great pressure from the incidence of forest fires, especially during summer period.

The H2020 project SHELTER (2019-2023) will particularly focus in providing tools and methods to increase the park’s natural and historical elements’ resilience by fostering local communities’ participation. Two tools will be developed; one to hinder the progress of large fires (prevention) and another focused-on restoration after the fire (recovery). With the help of different government levels (regional and local), the academia, local research institutions and business, the project will design nature-based solutions against fires’ risk including prevention, preparedness response and recovery phases including landowners for testing and validation. Interventions will include humidity of thalwegs by hardwood species as limiters of fire, identification of species in soil restoration and community-led silviculture practices. Thermos-cameras and soil humidity sensors will provide early warning signals in case of fire, give indications on critical situations (periods of draught) and monitor post-event restorations.