Abstract

ANTUNES, Catarina Carvalho; VIEGAS, Domingos Xavier  and  MENDES, José Manuel. Wildland Fire Risk in the Municipality of Arganil. Silva Lus. [online]. 2011, vol.19, n.2, pp.165-179. ISSN 0870-6352.

This paper describes forest fire risk as a natural risk and aims to make its assessment in accordance with the conceptual model of risk internationally accepted. For this purpose, the municipality of Arganil was chosen as a study area due to its extensive forest area, its appreciated natural scenery, its historical and cultural heritage and its recreational sites. Thus, a methodology was developed for integration of physical and social variables through a Geographic Information System (GIS). Moreover, components at risk were identified and the potential damage estimated. As a final result two maps of risk were obtained: one map economic on losses and other on losses to the environment. The methodology used allowed to evaluate where is more likely that a fire occurs and the greatest potential for loss. The results obtained from this study showed that in the municipality of Arganil the wildland fire danger index is high and the wildland fire risk index is low. It is also shown that the wildland fire risk assessment based on the landscape value reveals that natural reserve of Margaraça, the Historical Village of Piódão and other recreational elements are those that may suffer the greatest losses with forest fires, which would have serious consequences for the tourism and economy of the region.

Keywords : Wildland fire; hazard; risk; potential damage.

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