Monchique fire - government to support eucylaptus growers

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.

Comments  

+1 #7 Ca 2018-09-25 18:34

Rather than give compensation to the farmers and commercial Forests for the burnt eucalyptus perhaps they should consider offering incentives and grants to plant slower growing trees - but give only a proportion when planted and the rest at 5 and 10 year intervals to encourage good and proper management of the plantations.

+2 #6 nogin the nog 2018-09-22 22:41

hmm
A state were the highest judges in the land step aside from making what should be a straight forward judgement against corruption. Therefore the needs of the many are obviously out weighed by the GREED of the few..

+5 #5 Barry Evans 2018-09-22 09:17

Quoting Hamilton:

Well said TT. Now we must start a petition against replanting with eucalyptus. To be debated by Lisbon MP's stressing that no one down here has forgotten the previous fire that devastated this area; the inevitability of the recent one and, as always, knowing the next major fire is roughly 5 to 10 years ahead.

Petitions are a total waste of time, they mean absolutely nothing to Portuguese politicians, just look how they have totally ignored the people over the oil drilling petition, weasel words, corruption and collusion with big business is the norm for these politicians.

+3 #4 PeterD 2018-09-21 13:07

Perhaps if the government did not compensate the growers they would maintain sensible fire breaks to help stop the fires spreading. Why bother if they expect compensation?

+5 #3 Hamilton 2018-09-21 10:15

Well said TT. Now we must start a petition against replanting with eucalyptus. To be debated by Lisbon MP's stressing that no one down here has forgotten the previous fire that devastated this area; the inevitability of the recent one and, as always, knowing the next major fire is roughly 5 to 10 years ahead.

+6 #2 AL 2018-09-21 09:50

Mr Freitas does good talk but like most politicians, he is a professional liar. Firstly no farmer wants slow growing trees, that means it takes longer to make a profit. That's why eucalyptus is good business it grows incredibly fast. Secondly there is no need to replant areas where eucalyptus have grown, the roots are still there all you need is a bit of rain and it will regrow again. In fact when I drove up the Monchique hills on Sunday you could already see new shoots coming up next to burnt trees, this only a month after the fire and no significant rain.
What would be helpful is to investigate the connection between the idiot that sets fire to eucalyptus plantation and the paper industry that gets the burnt trees at a fraction of the price.

+13 #1 TT 2018-09-20 22:34

Providing the pyromaniacs with more fuel? This is Portuguese logic (oxymoron?) at its best.
Anyone who doesn't believe corruption is behind this needs to get their head out of the sand.

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