Rising global temperatures and longer drought periods are leading to more frequent and intense wildfires across Europe, making it increasingly important to understand how vegetation responds after fire in order to inform sustainable landscape management.

Our project will investigate whether invasive species that benefit from fire are more prevalent in recently burned shrubland than in nearby unburned areas at Quinta da Mizarela in Serra do Açor, Portugal, a site affected by major wildfires in 2025. During spring 2026, we will survey vegetation using non-invasive field methods, classifying selected species as native or invasive and according to their fire tolerance, and collecting information on vegetation structures using a Faro M70 terrestrial laser scanner.

Through this project, we aim to contribute data on post-fire vegetation dynamics.