Preface

The deep biophysical alterations that are currently happening on our planet, are the natural consequence to the climate changes which the biosphere is subjected to. The loss of biodiversity is one of the macroscopic effects of this modification. Although this certainly isn't the first time the Earth undergoes such evolutions, mankind today should have the opportunity to make this change little less critical, considering, above all, that probably one of the most important causes of the actual loss of biodiversity is closely related to human development.

Every ecosystem is a complex organization of carefully mixed life forms, a dynamic and particularly sensible system. Consequently, their progressive decline may accelerate climate change and vice versa, influencing flora and fauna composition and distribution, resulting in the loss of biodiversity.

Mainly focused on climate change effects, this book includes very interesting case studies about biodiversity evaluations and provisions in several different ecosystems, such as tropical forests and coral reefs, analysing the current life condition of many life forms, from shellfish to reptiles and amphibians, and covering diverse biogeographic zones, from Europe to Oceania, Africa to Asia, as well as from Pacific Ocean to Indian Ocean.

> **Oscar Grillo** Stazione Sperimentale di Granicoltura per la Sicilia, Caltagirone Biodiversity Conservation Centre, University of Cagliari Italy

> **Gianfranco Venora** Stazione Sperimentale di Granicoltura per la Sicilia, Caltagirone, Italy

**1** 

*1Sarajevo University* 

*2Albania* 

*4Romania 5Malaysia* 

*3United Kingdom*

*4Transilvania University 5Putra University 1Bosnia Herzegovina*

*3Buckinghamshire New University* 

**Climate Change: Wildfire Impact** 

*2Ministry of Environment, Forest and Water Administration* 

The European forests harbour biological wealth of international importance (circa 6,000 species are of conservation importance according to IUCN). Changes to come in climate are challenging science, governments, and local communities in order to sustain the health of its

European climate system are supported by various factors such as soils, topography, available plant species. Some of these factors are contributing to both natural ecosystems and their fire regimes. Long-term patterns of temperature and precipitation determine the moisture available to grow the vegetation that fuels wildfires (Stephenson, 1998). Climatic inconsistency on inter-annual and shorter scales governs the flammability of these fuels (Westerling, 2003; Heyerdahl et al., 2001). Flammability and fire frequency in turn affect the amount and continuity of available fuels. Therefore, long-term trends in climate can have profound implications for the location, frequency, extent, and severity of wildfires and for the character of the ecosystems that support them (Westerling, 2006a). Human determined climatic change may, over a relatively short time period (< 100 years), give rise to climates outside anything experienced in Europe, since the establishment of an industrial civilization, currently sustaining a population that has increased approximately 270% since 1850. Changes in wildfire regimes driven by climate change are likely to impact ecosystem services that European citizens rely on, including carbon sequestration; water quality and quantity; air quality; wildlife habitat; and recreational facilities. In addition to climate change, the continued growth of continent's population and the spatial pattern of development that accompanies that growth are consequently affecting wildfire regimes through their impact on the availability and

South East Europe ecosystems are a vast mosaic of different habitat types. The biodiversity patterns we encounter today are a result of millions of years of climatic and geologic change.

ecosystems, which will, in turn, also help protect the quality of life.

continuity of fuels and the availability of ignitions.

**1. Introduction** 

Mirza Dautbasic1, Genci Hoxhaj2, Florin Ioras3, Ioan Vasile Abrudan4 and Jega Ratnasingam5
