The government has devised a 30-year plan to enhance the forest. “The Government’s commitment is to take steps forward every year to fulfill the 30-year plan. We cannot accept the current situation. It’s unacceptable to have such large-scale fires every year,” stated the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Castro Almeida, who visited several sites affected by the week-long fire in the Peneda-Gerês National Park (PNPG) in the municipality of Ponte da Barca, Viana do Castelo district.
Castro Almeida’s response to journalists came after being asked about “what’s left of the PNPG” following the fire.
Earlier, when asked if there was a shortage of Forest Rangers or additional resources needed for the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), which manages the PNPG, the Minister of Agriculture and Sea, José Manuel Fernandes, emphasized the importance of the Forest Intervention Plan.
José Manuel Fernandes mentioned an “average annual investment of 245 million euros for the 2025-2050 period, which should be approved by the end of the month in the Council of Ministers’ meeting.”
“It seems people forget, but we already presented this plan on March 21, 2024,” he noted.
The Agriculture Minister affirmed the presence of “means to fight” the flames, advocating prevention.
“That’s why we have the plan, which includes forest valorization, resilience, and ownership,” he added.
He stated the objective is to have legislation on ownership approved by 2026, as it’s “one of the conditions for success.”
For José Manuel Fernandes, “the forest must be a wealth not only environmentally but also economically.”
“We are already moving forward with a tender for communal lands. We also need to reduce fuel material. Goats and other animals reduce this material and aid biodiversity. We have 30 million euros from the Environmental Fund to reinforce these ruminants,” he assured.
Castro Almeida emphasized that “the long-term plan must have concerted action year by year,” and cannot be resolved from Lisbon.
“We will provide resources to municipalities and parishes to create local action plans,” he stated.
The Cohesion Minister also revealed there are two types of support for agriculture affected by the fires, under a decree-law the Government plans to approve “in principle at the next Council of Ministers” to “define a general support framework in case of major forest fires.”
Castro Almeida explained the intent is to create “a general framework” to “apply to each case, year after year, as it is clear we will continue to have fires over the years.”
The Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) reported on Monday that the fire consumed 5,786 hectares of the PNPG, according to provisional data.
The PNPG was established in 1971, managed by the ICNF, and covers an area of 69,596 hectares, spanning the districts of Braga (municipality of Terras de Bouro), Viana do Castelo (municipalities of Melgaço, Arcos de Valdevez, and Ponte da Barca), and Vila Real (municipality of Montalegre).
