The Minister of Agriculture announced this Tuesday, in Parliament, the extension of colored and marked diesel to the vehicles of forestry contractors and the refund of VAT on the purchase of protective equipment, in the field of the rural fire system.

According to Minister José Manuel Fernandes, among the main objectives for 2025 regarding forests, the Government proposes “Expansion of the use of colored and marked diesel fuel to vehicles used by teams of forestry sappers. integrated into SGIFR [Sistema de Gestão Integrada de Fogos Rurais]”.

The official, who was speaking in the Assembly of the Republic, within the framework of the specialized evaluation of the State Budget bill for 2025 (OE2025), added that another measure will be “Refund of the amount equivalent to VAT corresponding to the acquisition of protective and work equipment for teams of forestry sappers. integrated into the SGIFR”.

In addition to “accelerating the resources” of the PRR (Recovery and Resilience Plan), José Manuel Fernandes said that the Government “will proceed with a reallocation of around 60 million euros from the PRR”in order to “prevention in the forestry field”.

“We want to promote forestry competence centers,” said the minister, highlighting the “pact for the forest” after the resolution of the Council of Ministers in September, which established 90 days for the preparation of an intervention plan for the forest, with a with a view to a resilient and sustainable forest from an economic, environmental and social point of view.

The government official highlighted that the “complex Agroforestry and fishing account for around 5.3% of GDP. [Produto Interno Bruto]” of the country, or “around 14 billion euros”, according to provisional data from this year, which employs 543 thousand people, which “corresponds to around 11% of the population employed“, and without taking into account indirect employment.

The OE2025 proposal was approved by the parliament at large on October 31. The final global vote is scheduled for November 29, after the discussion in the specialty and the presentation of the amendment contributions by the parties.

Government launches tender for 7.5 ME for emergency stabilization after fires

“This month” a competition for 7.5 million euros will be opened, within the framework of the Regional Development Plan (PDR), to finance the consolidation works after the rural fires, the Minister of Agriculture also announced this Tuesday.

“I hope to launch a contest this month that is 7.5 million euroswithin the scope of the PDR, for the emergency stabilization of lands, after the rural fires that affected the country, stated José Manuel Fernandes.

The government official, who was speaking at a hearing with the committees of the Assembly of the Republic on Budget, Finance and Public Administration, and Agriculture and Fisheries, within the framework of the specialized evaluation of the State Budget bill for 2025 ( OE2025), explained that the contest is carried out after a survey carried out by forestry experts from the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests.