Scholarly record

WILDFIRE HAZARD AND BIOMASS DYNAMICS ACROSS LAND-COVER TYPES IN ALBANIA

Orjeta Jaupaj, Alban Doko, Florinda Kadria

Abstract

Albania, situated in the Mediterranean basin, represents a fire-prone environment where climatic conditions, vegetation heterogeneity, and human pressure interact to shape complex wildfire dynamics. While several studies have focused on meteorological fire-danger forecasting, the frequency of observed wildfire occurrence, and fire severity in terms of burned area extent, considerably less attention has been given to the year-to-year variability of biomass loss. This study examines the impact of wildfire activity on biomass across different land-cover types in Albania over the last ten years, with a particular focus on interannual variability and extreme fire seasons. Burned area data are disaggregated by land-cover classes, enabling a more detailed interpretation of biomass loss beyond aggregate national indicators. In addition, the study explores how variations in biomass loss relate to fire severity, highlighting the role of fire intensity and spatial propagation in shaping observed impacts. The results reveal a strong concentration of fire impact in broadleaved forests, shrublands, and transitional woodland–shrub areas, which consistently account for the largest share of burned biomass across all years. Agricultural land also contributes significantly during high-impact seasons, indicating that human-influenced landscapes can amplify fire spread. Transitional ecosystems emerge as particularly vulnerable, acting as key zones for fire propagation and large-scale biomass loss. Overall, the study demonstrates that understanding wildfire impacts requires moving beyond simple fire occurrence and burned area metrics toward a more nuanced assessment of biomass distribution across land-cover types. This is especially relevant in Mediterranean environments, where vegetation heterogeneity plays a critical role in shaping fire dynamics and associated impacts.

Publication details

Back to publication list