Portugal

What has been done?

  • May 2nd – Creation of a Facebook group (SOESOS PORTUGAL) in order to facilitate communication between group members
  • June 26th – Meeting between group members with two main goals:

Presentation of each group member

Presentation of the project and task allocation

During this meeting, we had the opportunity to learn about each other, play ice-breaking games, receive important information about the project itself and the Youth Exchange in Cyprus, distribute tasks and set deadlines.

  • June – Logo creation and participation in the logo competition
  • June 10th – 13th – Two logo proposals were finished and posted on our Facebook group
  • July – Research and writing an article about forest fires in Portugal + poster creation

What are our expectations?

  • Learn about different environmental realities across Europe
  • Be better informed and aware of today’s european/global environmental issues
  • Have a better and more profound notion of how individual human action impacts the environment on a daily basis
  • Have a better and more profound notion of how to prevent certain environmental issues and/or how to reduce human impact
  • Meet different cultures and ways of thinking
  • Develop social, cultural and linguistic skills
  • Share points of view and experiences

How can we contribute to the project?

We believe that different cultures can contribute to any cause, debate or research by presenting a unique perspective; we are also aware that global environmental issues will not be solved without an open dialogue between countries. Therefore, we can contribute to this project by giving voice to the portuguese reality, by expressing our thoughts, concerns and opinions, by offering our perspective. We can contribute to this project by carefully listening to the other organisations and seeking new, updated information concerning their issues, as well as reflecting upon possible future solutions. We are, in addition, willing to actively participate in the project’s activities and to establish a good relationship with all other organisations involved.

FOREST FIRES IN PORTUGAL

In Portugal, forest fires pose a grave and continuous threat to sustainable forest development. Portugal is the european country with the greatest number of fire occurrences per year since 1980 (Bastos, 2011) and such occurrences have dramatically increased over time, not only in frequency but also in terms of extension and affected area. The situation is severe, especially because land-use occupation in Portugal is dominated by forests, which account for approximately 40% of its total area (Bastos, 2011).

According to Ana Bastos (2011), the Mediterranean basin is particularly sensitive to climate change and, consequently, to temperature increase. This, together with the presence of dry winds and a reduction of summer rainfall, increments fire risk. Moreover, the portuguese rural landscape has changed over the last decades due to industrialization: new problems such as depopulation, land abandonment and fuel accumulation have arisen and undeniably contributed to the increase of the number of fires as well as the speed at which the flames spread out. Although the vast majority of wildfires are caused by human action - either purposeful or accidental (Vasconcelos et al., 2001) - these factors allow to explain why they can be such a great menace to human life, human health and the preservation of forest ecosystems.

Indeed, fires have worrying consequences. They contribute to soil impoverishment (associated with loss of nutrients) and soil erosion or desertification, destroy natural habitats, reduce vegetation and wildlife, change hydro-ecological processes (which affects water quality), release smoke (which affects air quality) and impact climate change due to the emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2, CH4 and N2O. Human, material and economical losses (namely, the costs of preventing and controlling wildfires, equipment needed, logistics, means of transport, etc.) should also be taken into account.

Consequences of Pedrógão Grande fire Source: Jornal Expresso

In Portugal, the forest fire calamity hit new and unexpected proportions in 2017. The portuguese national forest fire database (SGIF) claims that, between the 1st of January and the 31st of October of that year, a total of approximately 442.000 hectares of forest burned, which represents an increase of 428% in total burned area, in comparison to the country’s annual average. Around 60% of the burnt area was populated. The greatest number of fire occurrences was registered in August (about 22%), however, the worst month was October, during which about 224.000 hectares of forest burned, making up 51% of that year’s burned area.

One particularly dire incident occurred on the 17th of June: an extremely potent and quick-spreading wildfire that had ignited in Pedrógão Grande (central Portugal) merged with three other nearby fires, killing 64 people who attempted to flee their homes - the largest loss of life due to a wildfire in Portugal's history - and burning a total of 45328 hectares of land. Three days of national mourning were decreed and many european countries expressed their concern and full solidarity with Portugal.

Even though the Pedrógão Grande wildfire had quite dramatic consequences, other extremely dangerous forest fires ignited throughout the country during the summer and the beginning of autumn, turning 2017 into an exceptionally sombre year. In total, more than 100 people died. These shocking events seem to have awakened the portuguese society to the negative social, environmental and economical results of forest fires, and promoted new discussion and exchange of ideas within social and political institutions, not to mention the media. Thus, new fire prevention laws were approved and a new awareness campaign began. According to the newspaper Público, the government has already implemented a number of measures, namely:

Consequences of Pedrógão Grande fire Source: Jornal Público

  • a new warning and communication system between the National Authority for Civil Protection and the portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA)
  • a nation-wide management program with a focus on forest and land cleaning (including a law that obliges land owners to clean their property)
  • an increase in the number of fire-fighting personnel

Furthermore, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Authority for Civil Protection have been informing citizens (through media, social networks, posters, flyers or even house visits) on how to prevent dangerous human behaviour that might accidentally start fires and what to do in case of a nearby fire.

Despite these efforts, many agree that the government has not yet done enough to prevent new catastrophes and guaranty the preservation of Portugal’s forest heritage. This means that the debate is not yet over and other, more effective solutions might be needed in the future. In addition, we must consider the damage already made by wildfires, how to minimize the long-lasting environmental consequences and how to promote vegetation and wildlife recovery. The younger generations will certainly have an important role in all of this.

References

Departamento de Gestão de Áreas Públicas e de Proteção Florestal. 2017. Relatório provisório de incêndios florestais 2017.

Retrieved from : http://www2.icnf.pt/portal/florestas/dfci/Resource/doc/rel/2017/10-rel-prov-1jan-31out-2017.pdf

Comissão Técnica Independente. 2017. Análise e apuramento dos factos relativos aos incêndios que ocorreram em Pedrógão Grande, Castanheira de Pera, Ansião, Alvaiázere, Figueiró dos Vinhos, Arganil, Góis, Penela, Pampilhosa da Serra, Oleiros e Sertã, entre 17 e 24 de junho de 2017.

Retrieved from: https://www.parlamento.pt/Documents/2017/Outubro/Relat%C3%B3rioCTI_VF%20.pdf

Bastos, Ana. 2011. Vegetation Recovery in Portugal following large wildfire episodes. Retrieved from: http://repositorio.ul.pt/bitstream/10451/8725/1/ulfc104188_tm_Ana_Filipa_Bastos.pdf

Valente, Liliana. (2018, March 28). Avançaram mais medidas na prevenção do que no combate. Público.

Retrieved from: https://www.publico.pt/2018/03/28/politica/noticia/avancaram-mais-medidas-na-prevencao-do-que-no-combate-1808277

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