EARLY POST-FIRE VEGETATION DYNAMICS: A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF A FOREST IN NORTHWEST TUNISIA

Wildfires are a complex phenomenon regarding their propagation, mode of action, their effects on the environment, and can be catalysts for ecosystem change.In this context, we studied the current state of the burnt vegetation of Mekna II, Tabarka forest, Tunisia.The Braun-Blanquet method was adopted by fixing phytosociological readings in the strata studied in the chosen area (400 m).Ecological parameters were determined in order to estimate the state of the vegetation.The results obtained showed that the dynamics of regeneration after a fire were modified, in particular, the rejection rate of the burnt subjects is clearly higher than the rate of the non-burnt subjects.On the other hand, the dynamics of postfire vegetation have shown that species that multiply by seed (Cistus salviifolius, Cistus monspeliensis, and Inula viscosa) are the first to settle and gradually give way to species that sprout stumps.In addition, soil analysis at the level of the vegetative strata in question (subjects of fires) has shown that the pH and electrical conductivity vary slightly.