Data from the Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF) indicates that the affected area represents 5.6% of the total surface of protected areas impacted by rural fires in 2025 and 4.4% of the total area of the National Network of Protected Areas (terrestrial surface).
The fires predominantly affected the Serra da Estrela Natural Park (PNSE), where 9,302 hectares burned, equivalent to 10.4% of the protected area, and the International Douro Natural Park, where 9,199 hectares (10.6%) were consumed by fire.
Together, these two parks account for more than half of the total area burned within the National Network of Protected Areas (RNAP).
The data, however, highlights that the Serra do Açor Protected Landscape registered the highest percentage of burned surface, with 351 hectares, or 93.9% of that protected area, affected.
In the Regional Protected Landscape of Serra da Gardunha, the percentage was lower, yet it still represented 41% of its surface, with a total of 4,346 hectares burned.
According to provisional data shared with Lusa, the Peneda-Gerês National Park saw 5,909 hectares burned (8.5%), and the Alvão Natural Park had 1,700 hectares (23.5%) affected.
Other affected areas included the Serra de São Mamede Natural Park (841 hectares), the Tua Valley Regional Natural Park (783 hectares), the Serras do Porto Regional Protected Landscape (673 hectares) and the Montesinho Natural Park (494 hectares).
Regarding the impact of these fires on the development of the Special Programs for Protected Areas (PEAP), the ICNF noted that for the Serra da Estrela park, the program currently in Phase 1 will be updated to include data from the recent fires. This update follows a fire that started in Piódão on the night of August 17 and spread to the Serra da Estrela Natural Park.
The fire affected significant ecological plant communities, with 41% of burnt areas consisting of Scots pine forests, necessitating intervention to stabilize soils. Other ecologically critical areas, like oak forests, willow groves, strawberry tree bushes, and wetlands will also require urgent attention.
For the Peneda-Gerês National Park, the fire occurrence in July is unlikely to hinder the completion of the Special Program, which is expected to conclude this year. Current plans already include the problems caused by fires as major challenges.
A targeted intervention area is being contemplated, similar to the previous strategy for the burned Mezio Forest, to implement specific actions for habitat restoration.
The ICNF noted that the most recent fires have not impaired the execution of other PEAPs, which are in the drafting phase to transition to special programs.
However, given the fire impact, particularly in the Alvão Natural Park and the International Douro Natural Park, the inclusion of specific intervention areas may be considered to promote habitat recovery and restoration actions.
In the Serra do Açor Protected Landscape, where 93.9% was burned, the recent fires will be considered in the Execution Program proposal, which already proposes recovery and habitat restoration measures, along with structural prevention strategies. No major changes in the Special Program proposal are anticipated.
As of August, three of the four special programs for protected natural areas overseen by the ICNF, which were in advanced drafting stages in 2023, remained incomplete; only one awaited approval.
The conversion of 20 out of 25 Protected Areas Management Plans (POAP) into Special Programs, a process initiated in 2023, was, at that time, still in the preliminary proposal drafting stage, months before the competition deadline.
POAPs establish the conservation and safeguard policies intended for the National Network of Protected Areas, which comprises 51 areas, including one national park, 13 natural parks, nine nature reserves, two protected landscapes, and seven natural monuments. Presently, 25 areas have operative POAPs.
