The Interaction Between Forest Fires and Human Activity in Southern Switzerland

Conedera, Marco; Tinner, Willy (2000). The Interaction Between Forest Fires and Human Activity in Southern Switzerland. In: Innes, John L.; Beniston, Martin; Verstraete, Michel M. (eds.) Biomass Burning and Its Inter-Relationships with the Climate System. Advances in Global Change Research: Vol. 3 (pp. 247-261). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands 10.1007/0-306-47959-1_14

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The impact of human activities on the fire regime in southern Switzerland was studied using (pre)historical charcoal and pollen data from lake sediments and statistical data from the 20th century. The cultural impact on forest fire was established by correlating charcoal-influx data with pollen percentages of anthropogenic indicators such as Plantago lanceolata, the Cerealia (sum of Avena t., Triticum t. and Hordeum t.) and Secale. During the 20th century, fire frequency was correlated with precipitation, dry and very dry periods and landscape management indicators. The effects of human activity on the fire regime are clearly recognisable since at least the Neolithic period. Using palaeoecological or statistical data, the variations in fire regime originating from anthropogenic actions may be differentiated from those due to climatic changes if they are sufficiently conspicuous.

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