An analysis of the regenerative capacity of vegetation using NDVI and NBR after large-scale wildfires (1990-2024) in the Mediterranean province of Castellón, Spain

(1) The Spanish Mediterranean is the destination of millions of tourists, blessed by the absence of rain in summer, the holiday period par excellence. Yet two major natural threats loom over this area: flooding and wildfires. It is precisely the summer drought, a climatic feature that is rare on a global scale, which helps them to start and spread. Mediterranean vegetation adapts to climate and wildfires. (2) This study analyses one of these adaptations: its regenerative capacity following wildfires that occurred in the Spanish province of Castellon. It examines changes in NDVI in the affected areas using Landsat images processed with the Climate Engine application, as well as NBR values calculated from Landsat imagery in GEE. (3) The analysis reveals a downward trend in fires and burned area. The NDVI values also indicate the strong regenerative capacity of well-adapted Mediterranean vegetation, with values rising to above the threshold of 75% of the pre-fire NDVI in all cases within five years, regardless of the type of vegetation cover or environmental factors such as precipitation. Conversely, the NBR percentages are less impressive. (4) Howeveronly partially reflect the actual situation since, as shown by field photographs and the Google Earth application, although the vegetation cover has recovered, its structure has not, as this process takes a longer period of time.