Forest and fire are, in Portugal, almost synonymous, and that is what the sector wants to change. To this end, operators are being trained in the latest technologies to enhance the profession and create safety in a rural environment with fewer and fewer people.
The forestry sector is investing in more technology and professional training to protect green areas. Almost every summer, fires cause destruction in the forest, which motivates the industry that extracts raw materials from it to join this cause. The idea is to enter a new era of logging, where technology and qualifications are key to ensuring greater safety.
“It will help us to retain people and help companies and regions to value their territories and have more people working on the ground”, said the director of ALTRI, Miguel Silveira.
The new professionals are already the result of an initiative supported by the PRR, which resulted in an advanced forestry school, the FAS. The idea is to continue training people across the country and even create a training and testing track in Figueira da Foz, not just for heavy machinery.
It is therefore hoped to change the face of logging, making it more sustainable and protecting the forest.
