Geography Department, Institute of Social Sciences Center for Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT) University of Minho Campus de Azurém 4800-058 Guimarães Portugal
bento@geografia.uminho.pt
Physical Geographer
PhD in Physical Geography and Environmental Studies
Research interests: Physical Geography and Environmental Studies; Forest Fires; Natural Hazards; Geomorphology
Other Names: Gonçalves, A. B.; Bento Gonçalves, A. J.; Goncalves, A. J. B.; Gonçalves, A. J. B.; Gonçalves, A. J. Bento
Abstract: This research aims at establishing a proposal of a way of reading the main problematic issues of the geography and planning of forest spaces in mountainous areas in what forest fires concerns.
The first part of this thesis, which is theoretical in nature, result of an exhaustive literature review and aim at establishing the âstate of the artâ in what forest spaces in mountainous areas concerns.
Still in this first part, we conduct a general characterization of forest spaces in Portugal, in the Northwest of Portugal and in the Cabreira Mountain, by varying the scale and the detail of the analysis.
The empirical part of this thesis, the forest fires geography, the second part, which aims at establishing in a detailed way a geographical reading of the global and very complex impacts which have produced in the forest sector, the forest spaces and its associated processes, not only related to the politics that were delineated in the first half of twentieth century, but also those that were defined almost in a random way, specially in the last few decades.
Consequently, a comprehensive geographical analysis of the forest fires in the municipalities of Vieira do Minho and Cabeceiras de Basto was conducted, using statistical methods and cartography and privileging a spatial analysis.
Generally, it was established to be necessary and urgent a national policy for the mountain areas which allows the reversal of the situation of the last four decades, leading to a respect and a recognition of the value and specificity of these territories.
The sustainable management of the mountain forests has very significant costs, however justified for the social and economic value of the supplied goods and services.
The specificity of the mountain forests is unmistakable and, just as in the case of mountains, a strategy/national policy that promotes their sustainability in required.
All these strategies will have to be part of a more wide-ranging vision for the entirety of the Portuguese territory, which so far has been planed not as a whole, but as a set of independent parts, in the context of various planning policies.
In order to achieve this goal, there is a need for a more proactive, coherent and continuous forest policy, twinned with a sustained investment in training and education, privileging a âforest educationâ, in the context of environmental education within civic education.
It is equally essential to invest in science and technology as a support for policies and, as a result of the internal territorial differences of the country, there is a need to provide the local and regional agents with tools properly adapted to different realities, in order to appropriately support decision-making.
Abstract: The recurrence of forest fires is degrading an important part of the Portuguese natural heritage, namely its forest and soils.
In this paper we present the case study of Cabeço da Vaca (Cabreira Mountain - Northwest Portugal), where in recent decades, particularly in the 70s, there was a significant increase in the number of forest fires and in the areas scorched annually. There is thus a turning point between a period when fire was an integral part of the ecosystems and when fire has become a serious threat to woodland management and development (Bento Gonçalves, 2006).
Starting with a thorough characterization of forest fires, and based on the mapping of scorched areas between 1990 and 2006, we have proceeded to identify the annual pattern of maximum recurrence and the definition of the return interval in Cabeço da Vaca, producing thus a valuable document to support management and forestry development in general.
Abstract: This article is a first test methodology that aims to highlight the importance of recurrence as an indicator of risk situations. This is an expedited methodology that enables the identification of the distribution of the areas of fire risk.
Abstract: The destructuring of rural areas, particularly in mountain areas, led to a sharp increase in the number of forest fires as well as of the areas burned, and Cabreira mountain it is an excellent example of this reality.
Abstract: Analysing the number of accused and condemned by forest fire crime and crossing it with the registers of the same crime made by the authorities, even having in account the information lack and it reduced quality, we verify the existence of some problems concerning the research of the causes or the criminal investigation.
Abstract: The study of the Pleistocene glaciation in the north-west of Portugal has interested the scientific community since the end of the 19th century. In fact, in 1895 P. CHOFFAT had already referred to the possibility of a quaternary glaciation in Gerês mountain, although without presenting vestiges and concrete proof (G. S. CARVALHO; J. L. NUNES, 1981).
Of the north-west mountains, only Peneda and Gerês are considered by the academic community as mountainous areas affected by quaternary glaciations. Beside these, only in Cabreira mountain has there been identified evidence of quaternary glaciation.
The quaternary glaciations in Serra da Cabreira have been little studied until the present time. In his discourse about the municipality of Vieira do Minho written in 1923, J. C. ALVES VIEIRA referred to the "undeniable documents of the glacial era". But it was S. DAVEAU who, after having raised the possibility of such a glaciation (S. DAVEAU, 1977, 1980), presented in 1985 an important study with the collaboration of N. DEVY-VARETA.
The vestiges observed in Cabreira mountain should be seen as a result of glaciations which occurred due to very favourable regional and local geographic conditions. This justifies why in other higher places of the region similar manifestations arenât seen. In fact, the Cabreira mountain (1262 metres high) is part of the condensation barrier formed by the mountains of the inner north-west. It is more affected by high rainfall (up to 3500mm per year) than for instance the taller Larouco mountain, which reaches a height of 1525 metres but is to the east of Gerês mountain (S. DAVEAU et al., 1977). This rainfall would have been even greater and predominantly in snow at the time of the north-west mountains glaciations. On the other hand the high slope angle, or the aspect of some slopes, may have created areas sheltered from the predominant westerly winds and the sun, leading to the development of snowfields and valley glaciers.
The proposed snow-line (about 1050 meters high) is about 100 meters lower than that proposed for Gerês mountain (G. COUDÃ-GAUSSEN, 1981; A. BRUM FERREIRA et al., 1999). This further emphasises the importance of the local morphological conditions, which have greater influence than even altitude and the local thermal gradient.
A systematic field survey of the forms and deposits related to the glacial morphogenesis of Cabreira mountain has led to detailed geomorphological mapping at a scale of 1:10.000.
The present work gathers preliminary results of these observations which, although not yet complemented by lab analysis, form the basis of a study that aspires to be expanded.
Abstract: The increasing number and area burned by forest fires in Portugal, broke out serious environmental issues that include natural, physical and socio-economic aspects, which increase the concern of the society and the attention of researchers, that have been giving a special care to achieve a better understanding of the phenomenon and to reduce its damages. Climate and weather are important variables in the complex system of forest fires causes. Despite their extreme variability at a local scale, and as the forest fire develops, we think that the climatic values obtained in shelter and used to cover an area (like the daily data published by the Estação Meteorólogica de Coimbra - Instituto GeofÃsico), which can be a major help to the understanding of the phenomenon. Using a set of climatic elements, we try to establish a quantitative classification based on daily weather patterns in order to explain at least partially the temporal variability of forest fires in terms of number and burned area in order to improve the fire risk acessment.
Abstract: In recent decades, with particular importance in the 70's, there was a strong increase in the number of forest fires and in the areas burnt annually in Cabreira Mountain. There is thus a turning point between a period when fire was an integral part of ecosystems, and timeliness, where fire is a serious threat to management and forestry development (Bento Gonçalves, 2006).
The reduction of length of time for burn an area (fire cycle) implies that in these areas the fire tolerant species become dominant and the changes of composition, caused by fire, are small.
Starting with a thorough characterization of forest fires, and based on the mapping of burnt areas between 1990 and 2006, weâve proceeded to the verification of the annual pattern of recurrence and the definition of the fire cycle in Cabreira Mountain, producing up thus a valuable document to support management and forestry development.
Abstract: RECOVER aims to develop mitigation techniques and strategies to reduce soil and water degradation immediately after forest fires. Forest fires are becoming increasingly frequent as a result of climate change and poor forest planning, with deleterious impacts on soil fertility and structure. It erodes the top soil layers, where is located the only nutrient pool of the majority of Portuguese soils. This nutrient mobilization happens during the fist autumn rainfall events, and therefore sediment and nutrient exportation typically occurs in the first 4/6 months after fire. The speed at which nutrient loss occurs and the extension of forest fires limits in terms of costs and logistics the solutions that can be taken to reduce soil and water degradation. RECOVER will test a set of feasible solutions to reduce ash flush. The proposed approach presents an innovative integration of field measurement techniques and will perform a perception analysis to all those with responsibilities in forest management. This is essential to produce feasible solutions that will be easily adopted by forest managers and forest owners. RECOVER presents an innovative approach based on field surveys of soil and vegetation properties following forest fires, which will be used to perform a GIS database from which the critical spots will be identified with the help of a Dynamic Geomorphology Conceptual Model, which will be validated by subsequent visits to the field after the autumn rains.
