Fire Eaters: Exploring Consumer Preferences for Labeling Extensive Livestock Products Providing Wildfire Prevention Services

Extensive livestock grazing has proved to be a valuable tool to reduce wildfire risk in Mediterranean landscapes. Meat from herds providing wildfire prevention services exhibit sustainability traits that can appeal to ethical consumers and find a suitable niche in local markets. This study assesses the preferences of a consumer sample in the province of Girona (north-eastern Spain) for different lamb meat labeling options from herds providing wildfire prevention services. The aim is to disentangle consumer profiles, providing evidence for improved product labeling. This may increase the added value and the viability of small farms providing this service. Employing a latent class modeling approach, we explore how meat consumption patterns and socioeconomic features may contribute to explain preferences for different meat labeling options. Our results have identified three consumer profiles: traditional rural consumers relying on trust with producers, younger consumers more akin to new labeling schemes, and urban consumers that support local butchers as a trusted information source. Different labeling mechanisms may work in a complementary way to arrive to different audiences of potential consumers. Geographical indication labels can serve as a good departure point, complemented with information cues on environmental factors related to wildfire protection.K.U. was supported by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN (PyroLife-860787

Smouldering combustion dynamics of a soil from a Pinus halepensis Mill. forest. A case study of the Rocallaura fires in Northeastern Spain

This study analyses the smouldering combustion on soils that took place during the wildfires that occurred in Rocallaura (Northeastern Spain). The smouldering combustion after the first event, 23 June, was the potential source of flaming fire re-ignition of the second event, 19 July 2016. Re-ignitions are an important challenge for the firefighting system. Budget and e orts are spent on controlling these re-ignitions that can ultimately cause the collapse of the response system if the re-ignitions happen during periods of simultaneous fire events. Our objective is to contribute to better understand the dynamics of the smouldering combustion of organic soils associated with these wildfires and the impact on the Pinus halepensis Mill. forest ecosystem. Transects were established in adjacent control and post-fire zones. Laboratory analyses were conducted to determine some physical and chemical properties of both the du and mineral soil. Using these variables, we estimate thresholds of du ignition probability, percentage of du consumption and smouldering combustion spread rates. Overall, we provide a set of tools for evaluating re-ignitions in forest ecosystems. We conclude that the concept of fire persistence should be a new variable for consideration in present and future analysis of fire regimes and demonstrates the significance of introducing smouldering combustion and re-ignition within the strategic framework of the wildfire hazard and integrating these phenomena into forest planning and management

How to speak the same language: key ideas from the forum on Catalan wildfire research

Postprint (published version

Propagation probability and spread rates of self-sustained smouldering fires under controlled moisture content and bulk density conditions

The consumption of large areas of peat during wildfires is due to self-sustained smouldering fronts that can remain active for weeks. We studied the effect of peat moisture content and bulk density on the horizontal propagation of smouldering fire in laboratory-scale experiments. We used milled peat with moisture contents between 25 and 250% (mass of water per mass of dry peat) and bulk densities between 50 and 150 kg m–3. An infrared camera monitored ignition, spread and extinction of each smouldering combustion front. Peats with a bulk density below 75 kg m–3 and a moisture content below 150% self-sustained smouldering propagation for more than 12 cm. Peat with a bulk density of 150 kg m–3 could self-sustain smouldering propagation up to a critical moisture content of 115%. A linear model estimated that increasing both moisture content and bulk density significantly reduced the median fire spread rate (which ranged between 1 and 5 cm h–1). Moisture content had a stronger effect size on the spread rate than bulk density. However, the effect of bulk density on spread rate depends upon the moisture content, with the largest effect of bulk density at low moisture contents.European Commission - European Regional Development FundEuropean Research CouncilHigher Education Authorit

Proposta sobre l’ordenació de la cirurgia bariàtrica en població adulta als hospitals públics de Catalunya

Cirugía bariátrica; Hospitales públicos; AdultosBariatric surgery; Public hospitals; AdultsCirurgia bariàtrica; Hospitals públics; AdultsL'objectiu és definir les indicacions de cirurgia bariàtrica en població adulta i disminuir la variabilitat entre centres hospitalaris; analitzar i definir els diferents nivells quirúrgics segons la complexitat de la cirurgia bariàtrica en població adulta; definir el seguiment a curt/mitjà i llarg termini de la postcirurgia bariàtrica en població adulta i establir els criteris i requeriments mínims dels centres hospitalaris per dur a terme cirurgia bariàtrica en població adulta. L’àmbit d’aplicació del consens és el Sistema sanitari integral d’utilització pública de Catalunya (SISCAT).El objetivo es definir las indicaciones de cirugía bariátrica en población adulta y disminuir la variabilidad entre centros hospitalarios; analizar y definir los diferentes niveles quirúrgicos segundos la complejidad de la cirugía bariátrica en población adulta; definir el seguimiento a corto/medio y largo plazo de la postcirugía bariátrica en población adulta y establecer los criterios y requerimientos mínimos de los centros hospitalarios para llevar a cabo cirugía bariátrica en población adulta. El ámbito de aplicación del consenso es el Sistema sanitario integral de utilización pública de Cataluña (SISCAT).The aim is to define the indications for bariatric surgery in the adult population and to decrease the variability between hospitals; analyze and define the different surgical levels according to the complexity of bariatric surgery in the adult population; define the short / medium and long-term follow-up of bariatric surgery in the adult population and establish the minimum criteria and requirements for hospitals to carry out bariatric surgery in the adult population. The scope of the consensus is the Comprehensive Health System for Public Use in Catalonia (SISCAT)

Prestació de servei de la reconstrucció mamària al SISCAT: postmastectomia oncològica o de tipus profilàctic

Reconstrucció mamària; Neoplàsia de mama; Mastectomia; Micripigmentació; Cartera serveisReconstrucción mamaria; Neoplasia de mama; Mastectomía; Micripigmentación; Cartera serviciosBreast reconstruction; Breast neoplasia; Mastectomy; Micropigmentation; Services portfolioL’objectiu del present document és definir la prestació de la reconstrucció mamària postmastectomia oncològica i postmastectomia preventiva, amb visió del procés, en els centres del Sistema sanitari integral d’utilització pública de Catalunya (SISCAT). També es pretén unificar la codificació de cadascuna de les tècniques de reconstrucció mamària per tal de millorar-ne tant el registre i seguiment als registres sistèmics (CMBD-HA, CMBD-AEA, etc.), com també al registre de les llistes d’espera

Current Wildland Fire Patterns and Challenges in Europe : A Synthesis of National Perspectives

Changes in climate, land use, and land management impact the occurrence and severity of wildland fires in many parts of the world. This is particularly evident in Europe, where ongoing changes in land use have strongly modified fire patterns over the last decades. Although satellite data by the European Forest Fire Information System provide large-scale wildland fire statistics across European countries, there is still a crucial need to collect and summarize in-depth local analysis and understanding of the wildland fire condition and associated challenges across Europe. This article aims to provide a general overview of the current wildland fire patterns and challenges as perceived by national representatives, supplemented by national fire statistics (2009-2018) across Europe. For each of the 31 countries included, we present a perspective authored by scientists or practitioners from each respective country, representing a wide range of disciplines and cultural backgrounds. The authors were selected from members of the COST Action "Fire and the Earth System: Science & Society" funded by the European Commission with the aim to share knowledge and improve communication about wildland fire. Where relevant, a brief overview of key studies, particular wildland fire challenges a country is facing, and an overview of notable recent fire events are also presented. Key perceived challenges included (1) the lack of consistent and detailed records for wildland fire events, within and across countries, (2) an increase in wildland fires that pose a risk to properties and human life due to high population densities and sprawl into forested regions, and (3) the view that, irrespective of changes in management, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and impact of wildland fires in the coming decades. Addressing challenge (1) will not only be valuable in advancing national and pan-European wildland fire management strategies, but also in evaluating perceptions (2) and (3) against more robust quantitative evidence.Peer reviewe

Current Wildland Fire Patterns and Challenges in Europe: A Synthesis of National Perspectives

Changes in climate, land use, and land management impact the occurrence and severity of wildland fires in many parts of the world. This is particularly evident in Europe, where ongoing changes in land use have strongly modified fire patterns over the last decades. Although satellite data by the European Forest Fire Information System provide large-scale wildland fire statistics across European countries, there is still a crucial need to collect and summarize in-depth local analysis and understanding of the wildland fire condition and associated challenges across Europe. This article aims to provide a general overview of the current wildland fire patterns and challenges as perceived by national representatives, supplemented by national fire statistics (2009–2018) across Europe. For each of the 31 countries included, we present a perspective authored by scientists or practitioners from each respective country, representing a wide range of disciplines and cultural backgrounds. The authors were selected from members of the COST Action “Fire and the Earth System: Science & Society” funded by the European Commission with the aim to share knowledge and improve communication about wildland fire. Where relevant, a brief overview of key studies, particular wildland fire challenges a country is facing, and an overview of notable recent fire events are also presented. Key perceived challenges included (1) the lack of consistent and detailed records for wildland fire events, within and across countries, (2) an increase in wildland fires that pose a risk to properties and human life due to high population densities and sprawl into forested regions, and (3) the view that, irrespective of changes in management, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and impact of wildland fires in the coming decades. Addressing challenge (1) will not only be valuable in advancing national and pan-European wildland fire management strategies, but also in evaluating perceptions (2) and (3) against more robust quantitative evidence