Porto de Mós, Portugal, Jan. 6, 2026 (Lusa) - The government wants to double the area of controlled burning and ensure that promoting extensive grazing is essential to achieving territorial resilience and protecting populations, the Secretary of State for Forests said on Tuesday.
"There is work that needs to be done to ensure that, in the specific case of the pillar of resilience, we will reach the most sensitive season, this year and in the coming years, and have very positive results, to protect our people, our heritage, but above all, also to ensure that greater attractiveness in creating value and wealth for the country is ensured." said Rui Ladeira.
The minister was speaking after the delivery of forest support machinery to municipalities in the intermunicipal communities (CIM) of the Leiria, Oeste and Lezíria do Tejo regions, which took place in Porto de Mós, in the district of Leiria.
The Secretary of State explained to journalists that controlled burning is "another form of land management," with "the average in recent years being around 2,500 hectares."
"The government, with the work of the ICNF [Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests], producer organisations, local authorities and CIMs, is working to intensify this area," he said, noting that "it will help in the resilience strategy under the 2050 Forest Plan".
According to the minister, the aim is to use controlled burning "in certain areas of discontinuity and also in priority local protection areas".
Controlled burning actions cover an average of 2,500 hectares per year.
"In 2026, we aim to double this. That is our ambition," he said, noting that meetings are being held with various entities "to define priorities" for public spaces, community spaces (unused areas), "but there will also be private spaces."
In the latter case, "mayors also have a very important role," because if there is a need to "protect people and property in certain areas," they can use public notice "as a way to intervene in areas where, often, it is not known who the owner is, to ensure that that area is protected," through cleaning or the use of fire, the minister explained.
Rui Ladeira added that, in this regard, the legislative framework "will have to be adjusted".
Asked whether this adjustment is to enable action on private land, the Secretary of State for Forestry replied "at all levels", but acknowledged that the greatest difficulty lies in acting in private spaces and "areas where the owner is unknown".
"Legislative changes are also needed in the area of controlled burning and burning areas. We are receiving input from those who work in this sector every day so that we can then finalise a proposal," he added.
According to the Secretary of State for Forestry, in the context of grazing, the government intends to "enhance the value of shepherding, increase livestock numbers, but also attract young people and others to this activity, to create value, wealth and jobs, but above all, reduce the risk of fire and reduce the vegetation and biomass load".
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