The Secretary of State for Forestry and Rural Development has visited fire affected areas of Silves and spoke to Councillors, forest producers and several of the many government bodies attempting to develop a plan to regenerate the burnt forests.
Miguel Freitas said that by the end of the year the Government plans to have an aid package for eucalyptus growers but also will support those foresters who want to plant slow-growing, more fire-resistant species.
The Government wants to encourage the productive potential of the areas of Monchique, Silves, Portimão and Odemira that were affected by the August fire and to make the areas less prone to ignition. A ‘lost income’ subsidy will be paid over five years as well as money towards the initial replanting.
Freitas leaves the option of planting slow-growing trees to the farmers and is concentrating support to the larger growers, nearly all of which grow eucalyptus for the pulp market.
The Secretary of State also promised that aerial reseeding of bare hillsides would take place to prevent further soil erosion.
The Freitas measures are primarily for forest producer organisations, "there are eucalyptus areas that we must replant, but there are other areas that we must change,” with the politician admitting that no budget had been set for the tree support payment programme but that the aerial seeding would be taking place this year, come what may.
"We want to have a great plan for a new landscape. We can compensate, on the one hand, those continuing to produce eucalyptus but also those who opt for other species," added Fretias who will not please those who want a return to native and slow-growing species.
