SOIL-EROSION AND FORESTRY MANAGEMENT AFTER WILDFIRE IN A MEDITERRANEAN WOODLAND, MT. CARMEL, ISRAEL

Forestry management is crucial in mitigating erosion processes after e xtensive fires in Mediterranean woodlands. Fire alters forest ecosyste ms, causing an increase in rates of geomorphic processes. The Septembe r 1989 fire in Mt. Carmel covered an area of 4 km(2) in the main recre ation area of a typical Mediterranean forest area. Six experimental pl ots, covering an area of 300-500 m(2) each, were established in order to determine the effect of forestry management practice on soil erosio n after the fire; runoff and sediments were collected during and after each rainstorm. Rainfall was measured by two recorders and several ra in gauges at the study site. During the first year following the fire, sediment yield was 100-500 times higher than on vegetated slopes. Sed iment movement was increased mainly by the lack of vegetation. Results show that there is a clear trend of decrease in sediment yield betwee n the first year and the next five. After this period the burnt areas recovered to similar rates of erosion as in the unburnt areas. The cle arings of burnt logs by machine and cable sliding increased the sedime nt yield in the experimental plots. After vegetation development in th e second season following the fire, no significant differences were fo und among the types of management practice plots.