The Government approved this Thursday measures worth 200 million euros for the municipalities of the Serra da Estrela and municipalities with a burned area equal to or greater than 4,500 hectares, after the fires this year.
This support was approved during the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers, although there was not, yes, the usual press conference.
The global amount of about 200 million euros is intended to minimize the damage caused by the rural fires in August in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, specifically in the municipalities of Celorico da Beira, Covilhã, Gouveia, Guarda, Manteigas and Seia, as well as in all municipalities with accumulated burned area, in 2022, equal to or greater than 4,500 hectares or 10% of the respective area.
According to the statement released at the end of the Council of Ministers, the municipalities of Carrazeda de Ansiães (Braganza), Mesão Frio (Vila Real), Murça (Vila Real), Vila Real, Albergaria-a-Velha (Aveiro) are eligible for this criterion. , Alvaiázere (Leiria), Ansião (Leiria) and Ourém (Santarém).
“Immediate response measures are defined, aimed at emergency stabilization actions and social and economic support for populations, companies and municipalities. Measures are also determined to increase resilience and competitiveness, and these also cover all the municipalities of the Intermunicipal Community of Beiras and Serra da Estrela”, says the note.
The Government also determined that “a Revitalization Program for the Serra da Estrela Natural Park be developed, focused on measures and projects to be implemented in the short and medium term that promote the sustainable development of the region, the recovery and revitalization of its heritage, nature and biodiversity”.
Serra da Estrela was affected by a fire that broke out on August 6 in Garrocho, in the municipality of Covilhã (Castelo Branco district) and was ruled out on the 13th. The fire was reactivated on the 15th and the 17 of the same month, at night.
The flames spread to the district of Guarda, in the municipalities of Manteigas, Gouveia, Guarda and Celorico da Beira, and also reached the municipality of Belmonte, in the district of Castelo Branco.
On the 25th, the Government approved the declaration of a calamity situation for the PNSE, which has been affected by fires since July, as requested by the mayors of the affected territories.
The calamity situation has already been published in the Diário da República and will be in force for a period of one year, with the “objective of restoring normality in the respective geographical area.”
Source: Observadora
