Clearing forest land is once again at the center of fire prevention measures ahead of the summer, with the government extending the deadline originally set for landowners to complete mandatory works. According to , the new limit now moves to June 30th, replacing the previous date of May 31st.
The expansion applies to the entire national territory and not just to areas considered critical. According to the same source, the decision was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, José Manuel Fernandes, who justified the change with the weather conditions of recent months, which made cleaning work difficult in several regions of the country.
Fines remain for those who do not comply
Despite the extension of the deadline, the Government guarantees that penalties will be applied to owners who do not comply with legal obligations. The same source writes that fines can vary between 150 and 1,500 euros, in the case of individuals.
In specific situations, the values can reach R$10 thousand and, in the case of legal entities, reach R$25 thousand. José Manuel Fernandes stated that once the new deadline ends, the fines will effectively be applied.
Summer that worries the Government
The Minister of Agriculture acknowledged that the coming months could bring additional difficulties in combating rural fires. The public broadcaster mentions that José Manuel Fernandes admitted the possibility of a “complicated summer”, particularly highlighting the situation in the Leiria region.
According to the same source, this area was one of the most affected by the storms recorded at the beginning of the year. Even so, the government official stated that there are already around 10,000 landowners committed to cleaning up the forests in that region.
Incentives for clearing land
In addition to legal obligations, the Government created support mechanisms for landowners located in critical areas. The planned incentives range between R$1,000 and R$1,500 per hectare.
José Manuel Fernandes explained that forest cleaning continues to be a priority for the authorities, especially at a time when they intend to reinforce prevention before the period of greatest fire risk. According to the same source, the financial support aims to speed up the execution of work in the most vulnerable areas.
Budget of 41 million euros
According to the same source, the global budget allocated to measures related to damage caused by storms amounts to 41 million euros. The management of these funds is handed over to the city halls of the affected areas.
The Government admits opening new competitions if it is necessary to reinforce existing support. The Minister of Agriculture stated that the objective is to guarantee responsiveness to the needs identified on the ground.
“We are doing everything at maximum speed”
José Manuel Fernandes also addressed the delays noted in the arrival of some support. According to the same source, the official said there were immediate priorities after the storms, including power restoration, water supply and housing support.
The minister also spoke of “brutal work” carried out by the CCDR and local authorities, although recognizing different rhythms between municipalities due to the resources available. RTP adds that José Manuel Fernandes guaranteed that the process is taking place “at maximum speed”.
Call for prevention before summer
In addition to cleaning the land, the Government is also asking for the removal of fallen wood after storms and the reduction of behaviors considered risky. The executive intends to reinforce preventive measures before temperatures worsen.
José Manuel Fernandes also highlighted the focus on controlled fire as one of the strategies used this year. The minister stated that there are currently means of prevention “like we have never had”, in an attempt to reduce the impact of the fire season
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