The delivery to the Government of the final report on large rural fires that broke out in the summer of 2022 has been postponed from November to the end of January next year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on Tuesday.
In September, a group of 30 experts invited by the government to conduct a scientific and technical assessment of the 2022 large rural fires met for the first time at the MAI, and then it was decided that they would submit a report. at the end of November to the Ministers of Internal and Environmental Governance and Climate Action.
This report, which will analyze fires that broke out this year and were not extinguished in 90 minutes (10% of all fires), will join the analysis, which is also being conducted by the National Integrated Agriculture Management Commission’s Lessons Learned Subcommittee. Fires, which brings together the Agencies of the Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management (AGIF) under the leadership of Thiago Oliveira.
In a reply to Luce, MAI refers to the fact that the coordinator of the group of 30 experts, Professor José Manuel Mendonsa of the University of Porto, has formally requested an extension of the original deadline.
MAI clarifies that “this request is due to the need to collect and analyze a very large amount of information in excess of what was originally considered.”
In this sense, he states that the final report is expected to be submitted by the end of January 2023, “in a time frame that still allows consideration in planning the next device of the proposals and recommendations that may be submitted.” .
While the ultimate goal is “to conduct a global and integrated learning process, the conclusions of this scientific group will be independent,” says the ministry, which is led by José Luis Carneiro.
The MIA also refers to the fact that “within the framework of the current assessment process and specifically in relation to its scientific component under the responsibility of the group of experts established for this purpose, the Ministry of the Interior is in constant agreement with the coordinator of the group.
The 30 major fire assessors are developing an “autonomous and independent process” in parallel with the work carried out by AGIF.
Finally, and taking into account the reports of the panel of experts and the AGIF National Lessons Learned Subcommittee, the National Commission for Integrated Rural Fire Management will evaluate the information, recommendations and conclusions that it will send to the government. .
Rural fires covered 110,007 hectares this year, the highest since 2017, with the Serra da Estrela fire having the largest fire area of nearly 25,000 hectares, according to the Institute for Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF).
Compared to 2021, the area of fires has more than tripled: this year, the flames covered an additional 82,796 hectares, and the number of fires increased by 40%, to 10,449 (up 2,997).
According to the ICNF, 2022 represents “the fourth-lowest number of fires and the fifth-highest area burned since 2012.”
In addition to the fire in the Serra da Estrela area, this year also saw major fires in the areas of Vila Real and Leiria.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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