Can Shrub Flammability be Affected by Goat Grazing? Flammability Parameters of Mediterranean Shrub Species under Grazing

In this study, we evaluated changes in the potential flammability of different Mediterranean shrub species a pine (Pinus pinea) forest Doñana Natural Park (of SW Spain) as result goat grazing. Plant height, total biomass, fine fuel biomass and leaves/wood ratio were measured individual plants each both grazed ungrazed areas. Moisture content, mean time ignition, combustion, gross heat combustion (GHC) class studied determined laboratory. The results experiment showed that grazing influenced characteristics species. However, strength effect was insufficient to modify index these plants, except case Myrtus communis, which presented lower index. According Valette’s classification, Cistus salviifolius, Halimium halimifolium Pistacea lentiscus are flammable species, Rosmarinus officinalis is flammable-highly M. communis non-flammable. GHC values obtained generally “intermediate”, for those R. officinalis, classified “high”. parameters study did not show very marked trend relation grazing, but vertical structure change by presenting reduced leaves twigs. This altered physical possibly acted reduce inherent fire risk shrublands.