Are wildland fires threatening the Mediterranean flora and vegetation?

Fire is an ancient and universal ecological force which has shaped most of plant communities and landscapes of the Mediterranean basin. Associated with climate and topography, fire has contributed to create, but not always predominantly, the types of vegetation growing around the Mediterranean Sea. In any study dealing with plant dynamics after fire, qualitative and quantitative aspects should be considered. Immediately after fire (first months to first year) floristic richness is lower than in unburned sites; then during the second to fifth years it becomes higher. This is due to a progressive recovery of communities and also an invasion of many annuals attempting to occupy the burned open sites. But towards the Nth year after fire the floristic richness reaches a composition similar to the prefire one. In the same way, as communities get older, their structure becomes more and more complex, with numerous strata depending on the original complexity. Present ecological systems of the Mediterranean area are the result of an ancient historical influence during which species have used mechanisms to overcome fire effects but also to resist to other disturbances. To-day, fire is really not a factor of change of Mediterranean ecosystems. Present species have developed several survival traits the best adapted to survive the disturbances. Management strategies that ignore the fundamental instability of ecological systems are totally unsound and ultimately lead to surprises. Depending on fire regime and frequency the Mediterranean vegetation has reach an equilibrium. In any elaboration of management plan of natural areas, fire must be considered as an integral part of fire-fighting planification.