The creation of teams with the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) and the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) is urgently needed to conduct field surveys and commence execution without awaiting authorization or licensing from the ICNF, stated Vítor Proença, Mayor of Sabugal, following a meeting today in Trancoso with the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho.
The city official from the border municipality in the Guarda district, where around 24,000 hectares were burned in mid-month, emphasized the urgency as the first rains approach, posing a significant risk of ash contaminating water lines, leading to severe problems.
Amílcar Salvador, mayor of Trancoso, expressed similar concerns.
“We must ensure that this layer of ash in our municipalities does not contaminate the public water supply. This is a current issue of great concern, along with soil erosion,” he stated.
He insisted on the need to fast-track processes to mitigate potential problems as the first rains are anticipated soon.
In Trancoso, where nearly 49,000 hectares were affected, the most pressing concern is the Teja reservoir, crucial for the municipality’s water supply, with its shores completely burnt.
In Aguiar da Beira, also in the Guarda district but part of the Dão-Lafões Intermunicipal Community, the Fumadinha dam presents a significant concern.
“The entire perimeter was affected by the fire, and it’s urgent to prevent ash erosion towards the reservoir,” stated the mayor, Virgílio Cunha.
Cunha expressed optimism over measures presented by the Minister of Environment, noting a willingness to streamline intervention processes in affected areas.
“We believe the APA’s feedback will be swift, aligning with project proposals. I expect an expedited process due to reduced bureaucracy and the elimination of unnecessary approvals, especially for minor interventions,” he acknowledged.
Lacking optimism, Luciano Ribeiro, Mayor of Seia, expressed doubts about the outcomes post-meeting, a town impacted by a fire starting in Piódão and spreading through the Serra da Estrela Natural Park.
“Ask me after winter if this meeting was worthwhile,” he initially responded.
Ribeiro noted that the situation is familiar to many mayors who attended the meeting in Trancoso.
“Many of us know what needs to be done and how to do it, based on previous experiences. We seek fewer bureaucratic hurdles—and it doesn’t seem like everyone is on the same page yet,” he said.
He anticipates “post-physical intervention bureaucratic issues,” highlighting numerous water lines at risk in his municipality alongside steep areas.
“In 2005, we experienced devastating post-fire effects, particularly in the Alvoco Stream, necessitating immediate interventions in critical and dangerous areas for populations, recognizing the impossibility of safeguarding all water lines and runoffs. Depending on future developments, we’ll see if government support is forthcoming,” Ribeiro remarked.
He reiterated that much depends on rainfall timing, mentioning initial priority interventions already underway by the municipality.
“We aim to mitigate risks to populations and their assets, especially in areas facing significant potential future damage,” he assured.
