Waldbrandrisiken in den Garrigues de Nîmes (Südfrankreich) : eine geographische Analyse

This study addresses the ecological and methodological challenges of wildfire risk in the Garrigues de Nîmes, a representative Mediterranean landscape. Building on Trabaud’s foundational work, it integrates field surveys, multivariate statistics, and fuzzy logic models to classify 12 ecological fuel formations, mapping their combustibility and susceptibility. The research highlights the role of fire as a dynamic vector in Mediterranean ecosystems, emphasizing the risks of biomass accumulation due to rural abandonment and suburbanization. A critical review of 1990s French wildfire research contextualizes the study, contrasting international advancements (e.g., US, Australia) with local approaches. Results underscore the necessity of ecological fire management, including prescribed burns, to mitigate catastrophic risks while preserving ecosystem stability. The study’s 1992 field data and cartographic outputs provide a baseline for historical comparison and future risk modeling.