RECOVERY OF VEGETATION IN A NATURAL EAST MEDITERRANEAN PINE FOREST ON MOUNT CARMEL, ISRAEL AS AFFECTED BY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

In September 1989 a large natural Pinus halepensis Mill. forest on Mt. Carmel, Israel was burned down. The aim of this research was to suggest post-fire management regimes and to assess their influence on the recovery of the forest. Three treatments were applied to the old burned trees: (1) burned trees were left untreated; (2) burned trees were cut down, the trunks were removed but smaller twigs were left in the plots; (3) burned trees were cut down, the trunks and the smaller twigs were cleared. Four treatments were applied to the new seedlings in the cleared plots: (1) no seedlings were thinned out; (2) Pinus seedlings were thinned out; (3) Cistus seedlings were thinned out; (4) both Pinus and Cistus seedlings were thinned out. Species composition, percentage of cover, the density height and biomass of Pinus and Cistus seedlings were monitored. The results of this survey, carried out 4 years after the fire and 3 years after the treatments, revealed that cutting or removing the burned trees had less influence on species composition and cover than the natural process of recovery. The thinning of seedlings influenced their height, biomass and survival. Post-fire management recommendations, based on the results of this and other research done in the same area, are proposed.