“The deadline is insufficient for what is identified as necessary to clear. The vegetation that has appeared due to the rainfall is substantial. There is a lot of underbrush that needs to be cleaned,” stated Pedro Serra Ramos, president of ANEFA – the National Association of Forestry, Agricultural, and Environmental Companies.
The government has extended the deadline for landowners to clear their lands by one month, until May 31, identifying 988 priority parishes for the inspection of fuel management work, according to two orders from April.
The management of fuel breaks in forested areas near structures aims to prevent fires, but the president of the National Federation of Forestry Owners Associations (FNAPF) expressed doubts about meeting the deadline, stating, “This year was particularly rainy,” and machines only became operational “15 days ago, and in some places, they still face difficulties due to mud.”
“There is neither technical capacity nor sufficient manpower to fulfill what is planned, as this year’s vegetation growth has been substantial,” remarked Luís Damas, emphasizing that “many won’t succeed,” and those who have already accomplished the task may need to redo it, making it “even more costly.”
The government order justifies the extension by highlighting “prevailing meteorological conditions, with persistent precipitation and high soil moisture levels, limiting the available periods for fuel management work.”
“It’s obvious that we will never clear everything deemed theoretically beneficial. Our stance remains that this legislation must be reviewed,” argued Pedro Serra Ramos.
According to the ANEFA president, there is no evidence that annual clearing effectively prevents or reduces the number of fires. “Nor is it beneficial for the intended forest management and development, as the expenses are in no way compensated,” he stated.
“We believe this is an atypical year. These schedules can’t be fixed; each year needs assessment depending on rainfall. In some years, it may even be necessary to start earlier, as March might bring high temperatures that dry the grass quickly,” Luís Damas pointed out.
Damas emphasized that this year, owners will “struggle to meet deadlines,” also due to “labor and machinery shortages for this period. Earlier work was hindered by constant rain, preventing access to the lands.”
The difficulty in meeting the deadline is echoed by Rui Igreja from Florecha, a company based in Chamusca, during an “atypical year” with significant vegetation growth “due to prolonged rainfall.”
The general director from Santarém admitted, “Labor shortages are a growing problem in agriculture and agroforestry,” and the seasonal nature of the work exacerbates it, as early efforts might require repetition due to vegetation growth, risking fines.
ANEFA’s head deemed it “pointless” for authorities to fine individuals for delayed land clearance, as “in many cases, if there’s no workforce or funds for clearing, people can’t afford the fines.”
“We gain little from a coercive approach under these climatic conditions,” Serra Ramos suggested, advocating for tolerance.
Moreover, the FNAPF leader highlighted that municipalities and state institutes still have pending tasks, “all racing against time,” though the year is “not yet dangerous”: “There have been no major fires because of rain, with considerable soil moisture,” he noted.
Luís Damas urged additional time for landowners to address this situation, stressing their vested interest in “protecting their assets.”
