Portugal’s councils today warned of the almost impossible task of according with the law that requires the cleaning of the scrub and trees near to houses and along the side of public roads, in the time allocated.Not before time, the board of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP) today got together to discuss the new laws on forest and countryside management.
Manuel Machado, president both of the ANMP and Coimbra council, restated his members’ commitment to the national scheme for cleaning forests to prevent forest fires but was not happy at all - "for the law to be feasible and have the desired positive effects, it takes time, human and financial resources and updated knowledge of the land register."
Machado stressed that work is being done on several fronts, and warned that "it will not be possible (to complete the task) in the time set."
"We know the reality on the ground. We do not want to have an altercation with the government, we are just warning of the difficult feasibility," added
Machado who said the deadlines imposed "are extremely tight" and that the law should be reviewed.
Property owners have to clean the around houses and outbuildings by March 15th, or the councils have to carry out the work and charge the landowners accordingly.
As for the fines that the government intends to levy on councils slow to carry out their duties, the Association’s opinion is that this really is not a helpful way forward and “does not solve the forest problem,” as this approach is hardly a great motivator.
Machado said that councils are looking at having to spend many millions of euros, that the sale of firewood will not compensate them for the expense and that it will take ages for them to take each non-payer to court and have their land or goods seized to repay the council.
There remains confusion after the public received an email from the Tax Authority on February 22nd, outlining the fines payable by those who do not cut trees and scrub within 50 metres of their properties.
By failing to take into account trees covered by existing protection laws and skirting around other key areas, including householders with landscaped gardens containing mature specimens in areas covered by hoses and irrigation systems, many members of the public now are more concerned and confused than prior to the notice being sent. (HERE)
