The government has announced a series of measures in response to forest fires to support affected communities, but it is necessary “to go further because it is not enough to restore the situation,” according to Carlos Brito, President of the Northern Regional Management of the Order of Economists.
The economist outlined “five areas that should not be overlooked by responsible entities, both at the central and local administration level, not neglecting, of course, the fundamental role that civil society organizations may play.”
1. Reconstruction with Local Economic Impact
“Prioritize regional companies and labor in the recovery of homes, infrastructure, and forest roads, preventing large construction and public works companies outside the region from absorbing most of the investment.”
2. Incentives for Sustainable Tourism
“Create nature and memory tourism routes (interpretive paths, regeneration trails…) and support local accommodation and restaurants with national promotional campaigns under the theme ‘return to the interior.'”
3. Promotion of Alternative Economic Activities
“Create a program of fiscal incentives and support for new rural businesses (beekeeping, nuts, aromatic herbs, and other endogenous products) and encourage the creation of local cooperation networks to explore resources jointly and efficiently.”
4. Investment in Value-Added Forestry
“Support reforestation with species of higher economic value and more resilient to fires (chestnut, walnut, cork oak…) and stimulate the creation of short transformation chains.”
5. Emergency Employment and Training
“Promote the creation of local reforestation and cleaning brigades, especially based on volunteering and available labor from workers affected by the fires, and promote training sessions in forest management and fire prevention as a new professional opportunity.”
Government Already Announced ‘Package’ of Supports
The government met on Thursday, in an extraordinary Council of Ministers, in Viseu, and approved 45 immediate support measures for populations and municipalities affected by the fires.
The government met on Thursday, in an extraordinary Council of Ministers, in Viseu, and approved 45 immediate support measures for populations and municipalities affected by the fires. So, what measures will impact the finances of those hit by forest fires?
Beatriz Vasconcelos with Lusa | 08:19 – 22/08/2025
“Beyond this package of supports, which will certainly be welcomed, particularly if provided swiftly and without excessive bureaucracy as promised, I believe it is important to go further because it is not enough to restore the situation. Additionally, it will be necessary to make the territory more resilient to catastrophes like the one we are currently experiencing in Portugal,” Carlos Brito considered moments earlier.
The economist added that the “main goal will be to make the territories more resilient to the risk of fires, preventing situations like this year from recurring.”
“In the context of rural fires, climate change, partly responsible for the situation, should be seen as an exogenous variable. The major variables on which it is possible (and desirable!) to act remain: land reorganization, interior attractiveness, reforestation in new models, and better prevention,” he concluded.
