Case studies

Introduction

From the results of the general literature review and the extended literature review, found respectively at General Literature Review and General Literature Review, it was revealed that forest fires can be either advantageous or detrimental for a forest, however the effects mainly depend on fire severity and intensity. The most basic consequence of a forest fire is the incineration of organic matter, however even such a simple consequence brings about changes in the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the forest soil, which forms the basis of the forest ecosystem. Nonetheless, forest fires form an important component in the upkeep of forests by altering the composition of a forest. Secondary effects of a forest fire can be found in the animal kingdom, since most animals require a specific ecosystem to optimally sustain themselves and thus a forest fire can severely impact the population dynamics of animals living in these areas. To combat the negative effects of the aftermath of forest fire, several methods exist, including but not limited to: natural reforestation, manual reforestation and aerial reforestation. However, each of these methods come with their own advantages and drawbacks.

To gain better insights in what strategies are used in real life reforestation plans and which pitfalls come along with them, some case studies are investigated. These case studies are considered with the goal of revealing crucial elements from reforestation strategies of the past which determine the succes or failure of a method. Additionally, these case studies are also carried out with the hope of revealing what a robotic solution for reforestation should be able to do and what it definitively shouldn't do.