Accelerating post-fire vegetation recovery through woody debris accumulation

Accelerating post-fire vegetation recovery in Mediterranean pine forests through strategic accumulation of woody debris. Restoration activities that retain branches and debris create mounds that serve as perches for seed-dispersing birds, enhancing seed colonization and reducing soil erosion. This practice supports ecological succession, particularly in areas where full-tree harvesting for biofuels has removed most biomass, leaving only a mosaic of grasslands and shrublands. The presence of frugivorous birds is critical for re-establishing plant life after fire, and artificial mounds of woody debris help sustain their populations by providing early perching sites. These structures also function as erosion barriers, as seen in fieldwork conducted in 2016–2017 in stone pine forests near Turin and Barcelona. Preserving non-commercial woody debris is essential for long-term forest resilience.