Published on
Portugal’s police force, the National Republican Guard (GNR), began nationwide inspections on Monday after the deadline passed for mandatory land clearing intended to prevent wildfires.
Landowners had until Sunday to clear undergrowth near properties, a deadline that was previously extended due to rainy weather. On the ground, GNR officers explained the specific regulations to property owners.
An officer from the GNR’s Environmental Protection Unit in Coruche, Felizardo, pointed out an infraction: “In this case, the grass is a bit taller than the prescribed limits, and therefore, fuel management should have been carried out within 50 metres around your building to comply with the established regulations.”
For some landowners, the wet weather that led to the extension created its own problems. A landowner was asked if she knew she had to clear the land.
“Yes, we do know, but sometimes things don’t happen the way we want. It rained a lot. My son was supposed to plough the land before going to the fields, but the soil couldn’t support the tractor’s weight, and it got stuck, so he had to leave it like that.”
Those who have failed to comply now face significant fines, which can reach up to €5,000 for individuals and €60,000 for companies. By the end of April, authorities had already identified over 10,000 potentially non-compliant properties.
Education is the focus, not punishment
Despite the threat of penalties, the GNR’s commander in Coruche, Mateus, expressed that the immediate focus is on education rather than punishment.
“At this time, and despite being authorised by law to carry out inspections and issue fines, our approach is always focused on prevention,” he said, adding that the ultimate objective is clear: “What we want is for the land to be cleared and for there to be fewer forest fires in 2025.”
The urgency of the campaign has increased in significance due to an impending heatwave. All of the Portuguese mainland’s districts are already under a yellow weather warning, with maximum temperatures forecast to fluctuate between 33 and 40 degrees Celsius over the next few days.
Read the full article here
