El Bruc

The area affected by the fire is located in the central area of Catalonia, characterised by a dry sub-humid climate, with an average rainfall of between 600 and 700 mm per year, and located at an altitude of between 450 and 500 m above sea level. There is an average of less than 50 days of rain per year, with frequent periods of drought and water stress for the plants, which have increased in recent years. Due to this factor, as well as the high recurrence of forest fires, there are areas with low natural regeneration and affected by concentrated and diffuse erosion processes. Furthermore, like many areas in the Mediterranean, and especially in the Iberian Peninsula, this area has been affected by rural abandonment since the beginning of the 19th century, which has led to an expansion of the forest, mainly of white pine, which increases the risk of large forest fires. Hence the interest in promoting environmental restoration projects that favour the restoration of cultivated fields, as well as the forest management of woodlands. Thinnings in white pine reforestation not only help regeneration after fires or other disturbances, but also promote the good structure and dynamics of the forest.