THE MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS OF THE MT. CARMEL RESEARCH-PROJECT

In 1989 a wildfire destroyed 300 ha of natural pine forest and Mediter ranean woodland on Mt. Carmel, Israel. Consequently an interdisciplina ry scientific effort in fire ecology was initiated in order to propose recommendations to the management authorities, Field data gathered on soil erosion in the Mt. Carmel site implied that erosion is severe on ly during the first winter after fire, but it does not seem to present a significant threat to longterm ecosystem recovery. The recovery of the natural vegetation mitigates erosion, and there is no special need for any precautions to be taken immediatly following fire. Salvage cu tting of burned trees had no effect on pine seedling recruitment, on v egetation development and on plant species diversity. Salvage cutting did affect passerine bird community by slowing down succession rate. F or successful regeneration of the pine forest the burned site need not to be planted, since the number of natural pine seedlings is sufficie ntly great, and there is a need to conserve the genetic and spatial va riability of the forest. Although thinning has a positive effect on sh ort-term pine survival and growth, such action is not recommended sinc e pine seedlings are susceptible to pine bast scale (Matsococcus josep hi) up to seven years, and to severe damage by porcupines. Selection c aused by this bast scale might improve the resistance of the new pine forest stand. Pine seedling growing in the:microsites of the old burne d pine trees should be treated carefully, since some of them, due to t heir fast development, appear to be the next generation of the forest. Thinning of these groups can be considered after seven years, accompa nied by removal of Cistus dwarf shrubs. However, where porcupine damag e is observed, thinning should be done at low rates and with no prunin g of side twigs. Since animal succession is a consequence of the chang e and progress in vegetation structure, there is no need for animal re settlement. The concept of ''fuel breaks'', combining a single massive thinning of the woody vegetation and an annual short but heavy grazin g, is a management option for decreasing fire danger and future fire d amage.