Targeting To an Efficient Prevention Strategy of Forest Fires, Estimating The Fire Hazard on Islands The Case Study of Thasos Island, Greece
Stavros Sakellariou1, Fani Samara1, Stergios Tampekis3, Athanasios Sfougaris4, Olga Christopoulou5
1Stavros Sakellariou, Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
2Fani Samara, Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
3Stergios Tampekis, Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
4Athanasios Sfougaris, Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
5Olga Christopoulou, Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
Manuscript received on October 09, 2015. | Revised Manuscript received on October 19, 2015. | Manuscript published on October 31, 2015. | PP: 27-32 | Volume-2 Issue-11, October 2015. | Retrieval Number: K03451021115
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© The Authors. Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Forests provide plenty of fundamental tangible and intangible goods to our planet, from vital chemical substances (O2 ) to more economic issues (wood for economic activity and heating etc.). Hence, besides the ecological role of forest fires at our ecosystems, an efficient prevention strategy for confronting recurrent and destructive fires is considered of crucial importance. Primary objective of the paper is the estimation of fire hazard in Thasos island taken into consideration all the factors which are conducive to forest fires ignition and spreading. The pillar of the methodology lies in the fact that a unique fire risk map will be created based on the local characteristics, namely, topography (aspect and slope); fuels characteristics and the proximity from the road and urban network. Taking into account the individual contribution to the overall fire hazard of all these factors, we developed a model for estimating the fire hazard of any given area, overlapping all the essential thematic maps. We identified some critical areas which are characterized very susceptible and they situated in the interior and the western part of the study area, where mixed and very flammable fuels take place along with steep ground and south aspect. This project may be quite applicable to any territory, adjusted to the local differences and peculiarities. The importance of such a project is prominent, while it constitutes a project with great added value, least cost and if it may be combined with other supporting activities to maximize the forest fires prevention and safeguarding the cultural and ecological wealth.
Keywords: Chemical synthesis, PEG, TEM, BMP model.