According to preliminary data from the Institute for Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), rural fires burned nearly 9,000 hectares (ha) in the first six months of the year, a 40% decrease from the average for that period.
The most frequent and already established causes of 3969 rural fires were burns and fires, accounting for 60%.
According to the first ICNF report for the year, 8,869 ha were burned as a result of the fires, including settlements (2,607 ha), bushland (5,833 ha) and agricultural land (429 ha).
“Comparing the values for 2022 with the history for the previous 10 years, it is noted that there were 15% fewer rural fires and 40% fewer burnt areas compared to the annual average for the period,” the document says. .
2023 represents the 5th largest fires and 6th largest area burnt since 2013 until June 30th.
In the first half of the year, fires with an ignition area of less than one hectare were the most frequent, accounting for 80% of the total.
For larger fires (considered fires with a burn area equal to or greater than 100 ha), ICNF identifies 11 fires that have destroyed between 100 and 1,000 ha, which is about 22% of the total fire area.
The largest number of fires was registered in the districts of Porto (690), Braga (447) and Viana do Castelo (391).
The most affected area in terms of fire area was Braga with 2,383 ha, about 27% of the total fire area, followed by Vila Real with 1,761 ha (20% of the total area) and Viana do Castelo with 1,430 ha (16%). of the total).
“The municipalities with the most fires are all located north of the Tagus and are characterized by high population density, large urban settlements, or traditional use of fire in agroforestry,” the report notes.
Out of a total of 3,969 rural fires confirmed this year, 3,069 have been investigated and cause investigations completed (77% of the total number of fires, accounting for 94% of the total fire area).
Of these, the investigation identified the cause of 2,303 fires (75% of the investigated fires, accounting for 84% of the total fire area).
Until June 30, the most common causes in 2023 are: burning of forest or agricultural residues (23%) and burning of pastures for cattle (19%).
Together, various types of fires and burns account for 60% of the total number of identified causes.
According to the ICNF, re-ignitions account for 3% of the total number of identified causes, which is below the average for the previous 10 years.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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