Efectividad de tratamientos adaptativos tempranos (clareos y desbroces) para evitar el decaimiento de masas regeneradas post-incendio de pinus halepensis Mill. por el efecto de la sequía

Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of droughts, negatively affecting forests. To mitigate these effects, treatments such as thinning have been proposed to reduce competition for water resources and improve tree resilience. This study was conducted in the "Grajas" (MUP-AB83) and "Los Donceles" (MUP-AB82) forests in Hellín, Albacete, Spain, where thinning and clearing treatments were applied to naturally regenerated Aleppo pine stands following a fire in July 2012. The results show that thinning treatments significantly increased the diameter growth of trees and individual sap flow. Additionally, stand-level transpiration slightly decreased due to the lower tree density, leading to savings in soil water consumption, which improves stand survival. These findings are consistent with previous studies on other species and similar climatic conditions, suggesting that thinning can improve water use efficiency. In conclusion, adaptive management treatments applied to young post-fire regenerated Aleppo pine stands have proven effective in improving growth and sap flow, and reducing stand-level transpiration. These results are relevant for forest management in Mediterranean climates and can contribute to more efficient and sustainable management strategies under climate change.