The government has announced a series of measures in response to forest fires to support affected populations; however, more needs to be done than simply restoring the situation, said Carlos Brito, President of the Northern Regional Board of the Order of Economists.
At the request of Notícias ao Minuto, the economist outlined “five areas that should not be overlooked by responsible entities, both at the central and local administration levels, without dismissing the crucial role civil society organizations may have.”
1. Reconstruction with local economic impact
“Prioritize companies and labor from the region in the recovery of homes, infrastructure, and forest paths, preventing large construction and public works companies from outside the region from absorbing most of the investment.”
2. Incentives for sustainable tourism
“Create nature and memory tourism routes (interpretative paths, regeneration trails…) and support local accommodation and restaurants with national promotional campaigns under the theme ‘return to the interior.'”
3. Promotion of alternative economic activities
“Create a program of fiscal incentives and support for new rural businesses (beekeeping, nuts, aromatic herbs, and other local products) and foster the creation of local cooperation networks to jointly and efficiently exploit resources.”
4. Investment in value-added forestry
“Support reforestation with species of higher economic value and more fire-resistant (chestnut, walnut, cork oak…) and encourage the creation of short processing chains.”
5. Emergency employment and training
“Promote the creation of local reforestation and cleaning brigades, particularly based on volunteers and available labor from workers affected by the fires, and promote training in forest management and fire prevention as a new professional opportunity.”
Government has already announced a support package
It should be noted that the government met on Thursday in an extraordinary Council of Ministers in Viseu and approved 45 immediate support measures for populations and municipalities affected by the fires.
The government met on Thursday in an extraordinary Council of Ministers in Viseu and approved 45 immediate support measures for populations and municipalities affected by the fires. So, what measures will impact the pocket of those affected by forest fires?
Beatriz Vasconcelos with Lusa | 08:19 – 22/08/2025
“In addition to this support package, which will certainly be welcomed, especially if delivered quickly and with minimal bureaucracy as promised, I believe it is important to go further because restoring the situation is not enough. Moreover, it is necessary to make the area more resilient to catastrophes like the one we are currently experiencing in Portugal,” Carlos Brito said moments earlier.
The economist further stated that the “main objective will be to make the territories more resilient to the risk of fires, avoiding a recurrence of situations like this year’s.”
“In the context of rural fires, climate change, partly responsible for the situation, should be seen as an external variable. The major variables that can and should be acted upon remain: land reorganization, attractiveness of the interior, reforestation in new ways, and better prevention,” he concluded.
