O Municipality of Sátão, in the district of Viseu, hosted the signing ceremony of the “Resilient Territories” program contracts and support for emergency measures and mitigation of the impact of rural fires.
The program contracts were signed between 58 municipalities and the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), under the witness of the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho.
These contracts, as clarified by the president of the Climate Agency (ApC), Ana Teresa Perez, pertain to an initial phase valued at over 7 million euros from the Environmental Fund.
“The money is allocated within the scope of emergency stabilization and ecological restoration measures in areas affected by rural fires,” stated the protocol.
Maria Teresa Perez mentioned that “50% is advanced in October for treasury” and then in November, based on the reports presented by the municipalities, another 25% will be disbursed, with the remainder provided upon completion of work.
Later, Perez added, “in a second phase, for other types of work, there will be an amount of 11.7 million euros to contract” with the municipalities.
Present in Sátão today, besides the Environment Minister, were presidents or representatives from municipalities across 12 districts.
From the district of Viseu, the municipalities signing included Sátão, Mangualde, Moimenta da Beira, Penedono, São João da Pesqueira, Sernancelhe, Tabuaço, and Vila Nova de Paiva.
In Beja, the municipality of Ferreira do Alentejo was the sole participant.
From Braga, the program contracts included Fafe and Terras de Bouro.
From Bragança, the signatories were Alfândega da Fé, Freixo de Espada à Cima, Mirandela, Mogadouro, Torre de Moncorvo, and Vila Flor.
From Castelo Branco, the participants included Castelo Branco, Covilhã, Fundão, and Idanha-a-Nova.
From Coimbra, the municipalities involved were Arganil, Góis, Lousã, Oliveira do Hospital, Pampilhosa da Serra, and Penamacor.
Also signing were Aguiar da Beira, Almeida, Celorico da Beira, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Fornos de Algodres, Guarda, Mêda, Pinhel, Sabugal, Seia, Trancoso, and Vila Nova de Foz Coa from the district of Guarda.
From Leiria, the Pedrógão Grande Town Hall, and from the district of Portalegre, the Municipality of Castelo de Vide were included.
In the district of Porto, the program contracts reached Amarante and Penafiel, while in Viana do Castelo, the municipalities involved were Arcos de Valdevez, Monção, Ponte da Barca, and Ponte de Lima.
Finally, from the district of Vila Real: Mondim de Basto, Montalegre, Ribeira de Pena, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, and Vila Real.
