THE EFFECT OF BIODIVERSITY ON THE FLAMMABILITY OF FORESTS OF PINUS HALEPENSIS MILL.

摘要

In the current study we examine the flammability properties of Pinus halepensis Mill, foliage, using samples from three different stations in Greece with similar geologic, topographic and environmental parameters (Attica, Euvoea and Corinth). Flammability assessment was conducted by means of bomb calorimetry and thermal analysis (TG and DTG) to quantify ignitability, combustibility, sustainability and consumability. According to the results, Pinus halepensis Mill, forests are considered as highly combustible areas, whereas difference in experimental values can be used to rank examined areas in descending flammability order as follows: Attica, Euvoea, Corinth. This difference is attributed to genetic diversity, which is not due to the effect of various environmental factors, but from genetic characters of the species, thus proving that biodiversity constitutes an important factor that must be taken under consideration in future flammability assessment research.