“The small, hyper-fragmented forest property, lacking in management, is more susceptible to fire,” stated a professor from the Instituto Superior de Agronomia.
José Cardoso Pereira indicated that “coordinated management” of these properties could “reduce the risk of fire” and “increase the economic viability” of the land.
He highlighted that for many older landowners, retirement does not cover “the high costs of clearing brush,” which acts as fuel for fires. Thus, coordinated management of “forest smallholdings” could attract “public funding at the initial stage” and funnel resources toward paying for services like soil protection.
Conversely, according to José Cardoso Pereira, the “revitalization of traditional shepherding” in “more productive forest areas” would enable a reduction in combustible vegetation.
“There are fewer people in rural areas, less work on the land, less shepherding, more abandoned lands, agricultural areas overrun by brush, and more fuel available,” he outlined.
José Cardoso Pereira also asserted the need for “controlled burns” of brush to prevent it from becoming denser and burning under severe weather conditions.
“We are losing vegetation management fires, which could save fuel from burning under extreme conditions,” he noted.
Mainland Portugal was ravaged by rural and forest fires last week, predominantly affecting the northern region, threatening communities, and destroying protected areas of the Peneda-Gerês National Park.
The territory remains on alert at least until Thursday due to the high risk of fire caused by soaring temperatures.
